Fully geared up for to meet April 1 deadline for GST roll out: Hasmukh Adhia

The government is on track to meet the April 1, 2017 deadline for the roll out of the Goods and Services Tax, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said on Monday. 

He said, "We are fully geared up for April 1, 2017, deadline for GST roll out."

Adhia added that so far the government was ahead of the time schedule of the implementation process. "We are so far ahead of time schedule in implementing GST," he said.

The Union Cabinet-led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its nod for the formulation of the GST Council which will be responsible to set the rate of taxes under the GST regime. Starting today, the formation of the GST Council is supposed to be completed within 60 days i.e. by November 11. 

The Finance Minister, the Minister of State for Finance and the finance ministers of the states would be a part of the council. It will be chaired by the finance minister. 

In the GST Council, the central government will have 1/3rd vote while the states will have 2/3rd vote. Any decision will need 3/4 majority of the council.

The Cabinet also approved the setting up of the GST Secretariat on Monday.