Home / Business and Economy / GST Council Meeting Delayed: Election Results Pending
GST Council Meeting Delayed: Election Results Pending
5 Apr
Summary
- GST Council meeting postponed until late May or June.
- Last meeting held nine months prior on September 3, 2025.
- Next meeting to focus on easing registration and refund processes.
The upcoming 57th GST Council meeting is anticipated to be held in late May or June, with the delay attributed to the formation of new governments in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. The previous meeting occurred on September 3, 2025, marking a nine-month interval, which contrasts with the mandated quarterly meetings under GST regulations.
Despite the postponement, work on the meeting's agenda is progressing. Senior officials indicate that discussions will likely focus on further streamlining processes for business registration, refunds, and audits. A simplified GST registration mechanism introduced on November 1, 2025, has already shown positive results, benefiting approximately 96% of new applicants by facilitating automated, three-day registrations for low-risk businesses.
Tax experts suggest that the Council should also address the artificial distinction between goods and services for refunds, which causes working capital blockages. Allowing refunds of accumulated Input Tax Credit on input services could improve business liquidity. The total number of GST identification numbers has seen a significant increase, rising from over 1.56 crore in October 2025 to over 1.63 crore by March 2026.
