Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has indicated that there could be scope for rationalisation of rates under the Goods and Services Tax (GST), as its implementation progresses. Jaitley said that “I do concede that as it (GST) moves forward, there will be scope for rationalising the rates. There, probably, will be scope that the two standard rates of 12% and 18 per cent, after some time, could be clubbed into one. That is a fair possibility and a suggestion.”
Further delving into criticism over several slabs in the GST rates, the finance minister said there cannot be a single slab in a country like India which has a large population below poverty line (BPL). Jaitley said if the two rates had been merged into one its inflationary effect would have been high. The current GST has 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent rates, plus one for luxury and sin goods. There are some that are zero rated, or nil rate.
He also said that he was under pressure to change the GST Network which people said was faulty but felt the structure was correct. He added that technically GSTN is not a government company but its board has government majority and therefore, no decision can be taken without the consent of the government nominee. The company is also open to audit by the CAG. Jaitley said that the government had 49% stake in GSTN and the rest was in responsible hands such as HDFC and LIC. He said the government would raise its stakes later to 51%.
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