Question

Who among the following heads GST council in India ?

• A. The Prime Minister
• B. The Finance Minister
• C. The Trade Minister
• D. The Commerce Minister

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council is a constitutional body in India responsible for making recommendations to the Union and the State Governments on issues related to GST. It plays a crucial role in ensuring one uniform tax across India.

1. The GST Council is headed by the Union Finance Minister. This is established under Article 279A of the Indian Constitution, which specifies the composition of the GST Council.
2. Let's consider the options provided:
   • The Prime Minister: Although highly significant in the Indian governance framework, the Prime Minister does not head the GST Council. The PM has various other roles, but the leading of the GST Council is specifically assigned to the Finance Minister.
   • The Finance Minister: As per Article 279A(2) of the Indian Constitution, the Chairperson of the GST Council is the Union Finance Minister. Therefore, this is the correct option.
   • The Trade Minister: In India, the role of the Trade Minister does not align with taxation and regulatory functions like GST, which is essentially a financial and economic reform area.
   • The Commerce Minister: Like the Trade Minister, the Commerce Minister's primary functions revolve around external trade and commerce policies, separate from GST, which is primarily a domestic indirect tax system.
3. Conclusion: The option that correctly answers the question is The Finance Minister, who is responsible for leading and guiding the GST Council in India.

This structure allows for collaborative decision-making between the Union and State Governments, ensuring that tax policies are streamlined and equitable across the nation.