V S Krishnan

It would have been better had the government gone in for across-the-board Customs duty rationalisation instead of picking and choosing sectors across the board

An audit system has great advantages over routine tax return verification but requires greater skills

It will give an impetus to factor market reforms, which are essential to drive India's growth

The Budget could have outlined a three-tier Customs duty structure with minimum rate on raw materials, a slightly higher rate on intermediates, and the highest rate on finished products

The tax reform's happy ending hinges on appropriate policy reforms, which require mining the rich vein of GST data for deeper insights by research outfit

The Finance Minister clearly mentioned that the government will rely less on market borrowings and, thereby, facilitate more credit availability for the private sector from the banking system

There is much to commend in the Budget, especially the substantial increase in capital expenditure

The environmental dimension of taxes must rank high in any rate rationalisation exercise

Going forward, we also need to look at inclusion of items in the GST from a larger macro perspective

The capital goods component is especially important now in view of the mandated guidelines for installation of pollution control equipment

A revision of slab rates may create some disquiet, but, if cleverly crafted, it could be a game-changer for manufacturing

The recent upsurge in revenues offers the prospect of the country breaking out of the long-stagnant tax-to-GDP ratio

Besides merging the rate slabs of 12 per cent and 18 per cent, the GST Council could consider phasing out exemptions to those commodities that were subject to VAT duty by the States

GST has achieved a lot in three years, but there is an unfinished agenda

Member countries of the WTO have the responsibility to exercise restraint in invoking the anti-dumping provisions. Unfairly invoked duties can unleash a trade war and diminish growth in the world econ

Under GST, the small and medium industries would have to handle things on their own

Creation of a technical secretariat, doing away with the distinction between suppression and non-suppression cases, and subjecting minor procedural infringements to non-appealable levies could help cr

Even with less than ideal design features, the state VAT pushed up revenues. The GST, with an improved design and a fully integrated IT system for both the Centre and the states, will fare better

Successful implementation of the goods and services tax hinges on the quality of tax administration reforms that the states can carry out. The CBEC's experience can offer useful lessons to the states