To refer to India’s soon to be unleashed indirect tax as a goods and services tax (GST) would be a stretch. In the GST council, the Centre must get 18 of the 29 states on its side in order to cross the mark. The GST council carries out its deliberations as part of a larger system of political democracy, comprising the Central legislature and state legislatures. The passing of the constitutional amendment bill has to be followed by the passage of several bills, including the Central GST and inter-state GST in Parliament and the state GST in the individual state legislatures. The Centre too enjoys an advantage on account of the voting rules of the GST council.

Source: Mint June 28, 2017 22:52 UTC