Acting on the public demand, the Goods and Service Tax (GST) Council has reviewed in Delhi on Sunday the tax rates to be imposed on goods under the GST regime that would come into force on July 1. Among those present during the meeting was the Uttarakhand finance minister Prakash Pant.
The meeting was presided over by the Union finance minister Arun Jaitley. The finance ministers and the officials from other states and the Union Territories were also present during the meeting.
The council is holding meetings at regular intervals to thrash out the anomalies still left and to finalise the GST slabs on different goods with the day for its nationwide enforcement drawing nearer.It is learnt that Sunday’s meeting of the council has seen the earlier 28 percent tax proposed to be imposed on security apparatus being reduced to 18 percent.
Pant informed after the meeting that Pasta and Macaroni have been brought under 18 percent slab while fruits and vegetable items, pickle, murabba, catch- up and sauces have been brought under 12 percent slabs.
The children’s drawing books and colours used by them for drawing, which were kept under 12 percent category, have been made free from GST, Pant further informed.
It is learnt that GST council during Sunday’s meeting has taken decision on 133 items. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), whose annual turnover is be less then Rs 75 lakh per annum, would get MSME category. During the next meeting, the council would take decisions on other goods like plywood, sources said.