Govt working overtime on GST: Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha

Terming goods and services tax (GST) reform as a game changer, Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha on Saturday said the government is working overtime to implement the indirect tax regime from April 1 next year.

The Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2016, for introduction of GST in the country was accorded assent by the President on September 8 and the same has been notified as the Constitution (101st Amendment) Act, 2016.

"GST is the biggest game changer. But it is also a challenge. We are working overtime to make it happen from April 1, 2017," Sinha said at the Chief Secretaries' Conclave organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry New Delhi.

Government wants to implement the tax reform from April 1 next year so as to ensure a smooth rollover to the changed tax structure from the beginning of the new financial year and to avoid mid-year alterations.

Sinha assured the gathering that GST and other path breaking reforms that the government has committed to its people will be implemented as promised.

"A silent revolution is happening and despite teething problems, India would move on to accomplish the objectives and targets set in by the government in all sectors of economic activities with increased participations of all stakeholders to further improve the spirit of governance," he said.

The infrastructure sector — roads, civil aviation, energy, conventional and non-conventional, power, petroleum and railways — have improved their performance according to targets, he said adding the civil aviation sector has begun to grow at the rate of 20 per cent, posing a serious challenge to railways in terms of traffic.

Speaking at another session in the conclave, chief executive officer of the Niti Aayog Amitabh Kant said, "We are trying to build a spirit of competition on ease of doing business among states."

States are now competing among themselves to attract investors and this is a positive sign, he added.

He said the government is focused on innovation and trying to make India an easy simple place to do business.

The government has taken various steps to facilitate further improvement, including bringing in the bankruptcy law, e-biz platform for a single channel of approvals and a national company law tribunal, he added.