The Problem of Making GST Operational: The Task Ahead

In principle, tax reform is a process rather than an event. India's GST is ushering in a historic indirect tax reform that has been in the works for more than a decade. It is a crucial tax reform which involved a Constitutional amendment for replacing the current indirect taxes. This made GST a reality. GST, for the first time, economically unifies the country. Not only is this a game changing tax reform initiative, it also puts in place a template for cooperative federalism because the states, thanks to the creation of the GST council, are as much a stakeholder as the centre. The GST is designed as a value added tax. To assess the benefits, one must look at both the direct and indirect benefits of GST. As a tax, GST relies a lot on technology. The focus of this paper is to analyse various aspects of GST and attempts to first have the understanding and then analyse thisimmensely topical subject.