GST to be best achievement of Modi govt: Ind

Progress towards realising the pan-India single tax system, the Goods and Services Tax (GST), will be the biggest achievement of the Narendra Modi-led government, industry organisation Assocham said on Sunday. As the NDA government completes three years in office, besides the GST that was nearing a roll-out, its other achievements on the economic front would be financial inclusion, digitisation and public investment on infrastructure -- railways and power distribution, the Assocham said. "The implementation of the GST in the next few weeks would cap other major initiatives of the government," said Assocham President Sandeep Jajodia. Perceived as another credible step for structural changes in the economy was the focus on improving ease of doing business through measures like the GST and other taxation reforms, he added. The GST Council at its 14th meeting held in Srinagar on Friday announced the fitment of services, as well as of 1,211 goods in the GST tax rates, heading towards the proposed July 1 roll-out, reports IANS.

The next meeting of the Council to decide on the rates of the remaining six goods items, including gold and beedi, was slated to be held here on June 3. Assocham said the "clean-up" of the subsidy disbursal process was yet another big plus of the government, which is pursuing to link Aadhaar ID with every bank account holder.

Helped by favourable fall in the crude oil prices, elimination of subsidy on petrol and diesel and significant reduction in other fuels, including cooking gas, have brought a great improvement in the balance sheets of state-run oil marketing companies, it said.

India's foreign exchange reserves have touched an impressive high of $372 billion, boosting the rupee value, which is helping tame inflation further, it added.