Brief Summary of GST Council- GST Council structured, Members of GST Council, Quorum, Functions of the GST Council

What is GST Council ?

The Government of India introduced the GST Council to modify, reconcile or to procure any law or regulation based on the context of GST in India.

The council is headed by the union finance minister assisted with the finance minister of all the states of India.

GST Council structured

As per Article 279A (1) of the amended Indian Constitution, the GST Council has to be constituted by the President within 60 days of the commencement of Article 279A of Constitution. The notification for bringing into force Article 279A with effect from 12th September, 2016 was issued on 10th September, 2016.

Members of GST Council

• Chairperson – Union Finance Minister
• Vice Chairperson – to be chosen amongst the Ministers of State Government
• Members – MOS (Finance) and all Ministers of Finance / Taxation of each State

Quorum

• Quorum is 50% of total members
• States has 2/3 weightage and Centre has 1/3 weightage
• Decision is made by 75% of majority

 GST Council to make guidance on everything related to GST including laws, rules and rates etc.

GST Council meeting

43rd GST Council meeting was on 28th May 2021 through video conferencing and was chaired by Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman.

The 44th GST Council unite under the Chairmanship of Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman via video conferencing. The Council in its meeting has decided to reduce the GST rates on the specified items being used in Covid-19 relief and management till 30^th September, 2021(30/09/2021).

Functions of the GST Council

The GST council will be supposed to make the recommendation to the Union and State Government on the following matters: –

• On subsuming of various taxes rates, cess, and surcharge in GST.
• Details of services and goods that will be subjected to GST or which will be exempted from Goods and Service Tax.
• On Threshold limit below which, services and goods will be exempted from Goods and Service Tax.
• On GST rates including floor rate with bands of GST and any special rate for time being to arrange resources to face any natural calamity.
• Making special provisions for the following states:- Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir ( J&K), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

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