Government hopeful of rolling out GST from April 1: FM

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has again reaffirmed government's stance that it would try to resolve all contentious issues in the next meeting and aim for April 1, 2017 implementation of the new Goods and Services Tax (GST). The FM was speaking on the sidelines of Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2017 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The landmark taxation reforms seem to have been stuck up on contentious issues pertaining to dual control, where some serious differences between the Central and state governments have cropped up.

Jaitley said that the government was aiming to implement GST from April this year. "We would want it to be implemented from April if all issues are resolved. There is a provision for GST implementation because constitutional amendment has been passed. So, it's a constitutional necessity that it should be rolled out before September 16," Jaitley stated.

The previous GST Council meeting failed to break the deadlock between the stakeholders as none of the parties seem to be in a mood to give up on their demands.

The next meeting of the GST Council is scheduled on January 16, which, according to many experts, would be a 'make or break' meeting, where both parties will have to reach a consensus in order to make uniform taxation a reality in the country.