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The GST Council's decision to impose a 3% GST on gold will not only make jewellery costlier but also lead to a higher incidence of illegal gold trade, industry experts have said.They also said bringing the unorganised gold sector into the GST ambit will be a challenge. “With GST, the total duty has become very high and the customs duty maybe revisited,“ said Ajay Sahai, director general at Federation of Indian Export Organisations.“The duty could be one of the highest among major gold consuming countries, which could lead to high incidence of smuggling." India, China and West Asia are the world's leading gold jewellery markets.On Friday, the GST Council also fixed a GST rate of 3% on silver, gold jewellery and processed diamonds, which is higher than the industry estimate. With an existing 10% import duty, consumers will have to pay an effective duty of 13% on gold jewellery, up from the earlier 12.5%, which comprised 10% import duty, 1% value-added tax, 1% excise duty

Two nations looking to start a startup exchange programme, provide easier market access Indian startups may soon get easier access to the German market and investments thanks to an agreement the government is planning to sign with the country for a startup exchange programme. Commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during her recent visit to Germany alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discussed with the country's economic affairs minister Brigitte Zypries opportunities for collaboration to share knowledge and best practices in the startup ecosystem. “There are synergies between India's and Germany's startup ecosystems since both countries have a similar set of sectors investing in new ventures,“ a senior government official said. A formal agreement between the two countries is being worked upon and is likely to be signed soon, the official said on condition of anonymity. The agreement will be signed between Startup India and the German Startups Associat

Major textile industry bodies on Sunday welcomed the decision of fixing reasonable GST rates and thanked finance minister Arun Jaitley. A Sakthivel, regional chairman, Federation of Indian Exporters' Organisation, southern region, said lower GST rates across products that have high export potential will go a long way in promoting Make in India. The Economic Times New Delhi, 05th June 2017

Different Facets GST Council provides no exemption for a number of telecom and IT products that do not face countervailing duty now Keen to give a leg-up to exports, the Goods and Services Tax Council has provided outright exemption to imports under various export promotion schemes, including special economic zones, from Integrated GST. However, no exemption has been provided for a number of telecom and IT products that do not face countervailing duty now. Exemption for these products under GST regime was sought by Apple. A number of IT and telecom products do not face any basic customs duty as India has committed to exempt these items under the Global Information Technology Agreement. India went a step further and removed countervailing duty, levied in lieu of central excise duty, to encourage telecom manufacturing in the country. Apple was keen on extension of CVD exemption under the GST regime. “Exemption from IGST on im ports by SEZ units and developers for authorised operation

With just over three weeks left for the roll-out of the goods and services tax (GST) from July 1, issues related to electronic way (e-way) bill, anti-profiteering guidance and area-based exemption rules, among others, are yet to be addressed. Though the return filing rules have been simplified, experts argue that such changes just ahead of the GST roll-out will only complicate the IT preparedness of the industry and the GST Network (GSTN).The revised return rules have done away with the need to mention invoices along with the product code. Now, only the harmonised system of nomenclature (HSN) code of product needs to be mentioned by the seller. In addition, there will be no need to issue an advance invoice if the final supply is made within the same month. “While we are appreciative of the simplified revised rules for returns, the industry and the GSTN will need to make changes in the software with just 25 days left for the implementation. The government should avoid making any mor

The Securities and Exchange Board of India, or Sebi, on Friday, said it has set up a committee under the chairmanship of Uday Kotak, executive vice-chairman and managing director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, to advise on issues relating to corporate governance. The 21-member panel includes representatives from other companies, stock exchanges, professional bodies, investor groups, law firms and academicians. Mint New Delhi, 03rd June 2017

NITI Aayog chief refers to Rao and Vajpayee govts, says reforms will lead to accelerated growth with a lag India’s economy will likely expand by 7.5% this financial year and by more than 8% by 2018-19 as economic reforms being put in place by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government start delivering results, NITI Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya said on Friday. “The full impact of the economic reforms and changes in governance being undertaken at present is yet to be realized,” said Panagariya , who was a professor of economics at Columbia University before taking charge in 2015 at NITI Aayog, the government think tank that replaced the Planning Commission. “Reforms will lead to accelerated growth with a lag,” he said, citing the experience with reforms carried out in the 1991-96 term of the Congress government under P.V. Narasimha Rao and subsequently by the NDA regime led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1998-2004. The impact of the reforms and economic growth in job crea