Formation and Role of GST Council

The article focused on Formation of GST Council and its Role. It is summarized in such a way that a lay man can also easily understand it.

Formation of GST Council:-

♦ Article 279A talks about GST Council

♦ GST Council came into force on 12^th September, 2016

♦ President constituted the GST Council on 15^th September, 2016

♦ Members of GST Council

♦ Chairperson – Union Finance Minister

♦ Member – Union Minister of State in charge of Revenue or Finance

♦ Member – Minister in charge of Finance or Taxation or any Minister nominated by each State Government.

♦ Vice-Chairperson – State Finance Ministers’ shall choose one amongst themselves as Vice-Chairperson of the Council.

♦ Quorum of the Council

♦ One-half of total number of members of GST Council shall constitute quorum for meeting.

♦ Every decision of the GST Council shall be taken by majority not less than 3/4^th of weighted votes of members present and voting.

1. Vote of Central Government have weightage of 1/3^rd of total vote cast and

2. Votes of all State Governments taken together shall have weightage of 2/3^rd of total vote cast.

♦ Vacancy if any not to invalidate the proceedings.

♦  Settlement of disputes

GST Council shall establish a mechanism to adjudicate any dispute between

1. Government of India and one or more State

2. Government of India and any State or State on one side and one or more other State on other side

3. Two or more State arising out of recommendations of Council or implementation thereof.

Role of GST Council:-

Make recommendations to the Union and States on:-

• taxes, cesses and surcharges levied by the Union, the States and Local Bodies – which subsumed in GST
• goods and services that may be subject to or exempted from GST
• principles of levy, apportionment of GST levied on supplies in the course of inter-state trade or commerce
• threshold limit of turnover below which goods and services may be exempted from GST
• the rates of GST
• special provisions with respect of special category states
• any other matter

Hope the above article helps you in understating the GST Council better and in easy way.

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