Not all states on board for fewer GST slabs
NEW DELHI: Amid the demand for fewer slabs of GST, several states, including Opposition-ruled West Bengal and Karnataka, do not see any need to reduce them from the current four, with a ministerial panel set to review representations from insurance, online gaming, restaurants and beverage sectors for lowering of rates.
While the demand for lowering GST on health insurance from the current 18% came up during the first meeting of the group of ministers (GoM) on rate rationalisation on Thursday, the matter has been referred to the fitment committee, comprising officers, which will come back with its analysis.
"Some GoM members are demanding that there should be no change in tax slabs under GST. More discussions will happen, and then only a final decision will be taken," Bihar deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary, the convenor of GoM, said after the meeting. The GST Council is due to meet on Sept 9, where the issue of rate rationalisation is likely to figure but Thursday's talks indicate that discussions would drag on for a while.
