No consensus on borrowing for shortfall in GST compensation cess, says FM

The GST Council meeting is underway. FM Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to address the media sooon

10:23 PM

GST Council meet ends without reaching consensus on compensating states

The stalemate over compensating states for the shortfall in GST collections continued on Monday with a meeting of the GST Council ending without reaching any consensus.

 

The panel, which is the highest decision-making body on indirect taxes, for the second time in a week failed to reach a consensus on the Centre's proposal of states borrowing against future GST collections to make up for the shortfall.

 

This was the third meeting in a row that discussed compensation shortfall without a decision.

 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who heads the Council, said the Centre cannot borrow and pay states for the shortfall as it would lead to rise in bond yields, resulting in rise in borrowing costs for the government and the private sector.

 

However, this would not be the case if states borrowed against future GST receipts, she said, adding 21 states had agreed to borrow as suggested by the Centre.

 

However, other states insisted on a decision to be taken by consensus, she said.

10:06 PM

Centre cannot borrow to make up for GST shortfall of states as it will lead to rise in borrowing cost: FM

10:06 PM

We will facilitate states in borrowing so that some states end up paying high-interest rates while others obtain loans at a reasonable rate: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

10:02 PM

GST Council can certainly take a call on cess, collection of cess, extending the period of collecting the cess and so on. That was repeatedly reiterated: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

9:56 PM

There is no dispute, these are just differences of opinion: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

9:54 PM

No consenus arrived on borrowing for shortfall in GST compensation cess, says FM Sitharaman

9:52 PM

Majority of the states had opted for option 1: FM Sitharaman

9:52 PM

Govt has already issued a borrowing calendar. If the centre borows, G-sec yields will go up, says FM Sitharaman

9:51 PM

Collection of cess inadequate for paying compensation, shortfall will have to be met by borrowing: FM Sitharaman

9:50 PM

Discussions in today's meeting went on the issue of borrowing, extension of cess and so on: Nirmala Sitharaman

9:10 PM

The central government cannot borrow, states will have to borrow: Finance Minister Sitharaman tells GST Council meeting, reports CNBC-TV18

9:09 PM

CNBC-TV18 reports that Finance Minister Sitharaman appeals states to take the central government's first option on GST compensation. The government has offered two solutions to states: borrow Rs 97,000 crore, which is the result of the shortfall owing to GST implementation, through the special window facilitated by the central bank, or borrow the full shortfall in compensation (Rs 2.35 trillion), which includes the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, from the markets, to be facilitated by the central bank.

8:58 PM

There is no dispute (over GST compensation); only difference of opinion: FM Sitharaman tells GST Council meeting, reports CNBC-TV18

8:28 PM

The amounts will be paid by the compensation cess, which will extend beyond June 30, 2022. In the case of the second option, the proposed extension of cess will be used for paying only the principal, not the interest. The option of the special window was raised to Rs 1.1 trillion at the October 5 meeting.
 

Business Standard reported on Monday that at least 21 states and Union Territories that had agreed to the Centre’s options are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
 

The Centre needs the support of 20 states to pass a resolution in the GST Council in case voting is required.

8:24 PM

Here is some background on the dispute. The central government offered two solutions to states: borrow Rs 97,000 crore, which is the result of the shortfall owing to GST implementation, through the special window facilitated by the central bank, or borrow the full shortfall in compensation (Rs 2.35 trillion), which includes the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, from the markets, to be facilitated by the central bank.