53rd GST Council Meet

The 53rd GST Council meet was held on June 22nd , 2024, chaired by the Union Finance Minister and attended by state finance ministers, focused on tax amendments, Aadhaar biometric integration, and exemptions in railway services.

Recommendations

Railway services: The services offered by the Indian Railways such as platform ticket sale, retiring room facility, waiting rooms, cloakroom facilities, and battery-operated car services are exempted from GST.
Hostel services: The GST Council exempted services by way of hostel accommodation outside educational institutions to tune Rs. 20,000 per person per month and an exemption can be availed only if the stay is up to 90 days.
Interest on penalties on tax notice: The GST Council has recommended waiver of interest on penalties on tax demand notice issued under Section 73 of the GST Act for fiscal years 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20.
Input tax credit: The GST Council gave its nod for an extension for availing input tax credit (ITC) on any invoice or debit note.
GST on carton boxes: The GST Council has recommended the reduction of GST on all kinds of carton boxes from 18 per cent to 12 per cent.
GST return: The GST Council extended the deadline for furnishing returns from April 30 to June 30 for the fiscal year 2024-25 and subsequent years.
Solar cookers: A uniform GST rate of 12 per cent recommended for solar cookers -- both single or dual energy source.
Milk cans: The GST Council recommended a uniform GST rate of 12 per cent on all milk cans, regardless of their material (steel, iron, aluminum).
Sprinklers: All types of sprinklers, including fire and water sprinklers, will attract a uniform GST rate of 12 per cent.