New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an important milestone in cooperative federalism, wherein the Centre and the states come together to address the issue of complex indirect tax regime in the country, a top government official said on Saturday.
"Successful implementation of the GST can lead to replication of this model of cooperative federalism in other spheres. The GST is an important milestone in cooperative federalism," Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha said at a seminar organised by the GST Council here.
Sinha said the GST reform process entails moving away from tax exemptions in various sectors of the Indian economy to a regime of seamless flow of credit and payment of tax.
More than 400 senior officers, including secretaries of ministries and departments, participated in the seminar, held to sensitise them on the GST's key features.
Sinha urged senior officers to be fully prepared for the GST rollout and to keep in touch with various stakeholders to address their concerns so as to ensure its smooth implementation.
A presentation on the GST's salient features was made by Central Board of Excise and Customs Chairman Najib Shah.
The seminar concluded with a question-answer session, wherein queries pertaining to exports, transport, real estate, railways and airlines sectors were addressed.
