Now even if it is introduced in the budget session and it is passed, it will take some time for the legislation to be framed and thereafter for the trainings to be done, for the industry to set their IT systems.

So the April 1, 2010 deadline does not look possible now. The 13th task force on GST has also recommended that may be the date should be shifted to October.

But the state Finance Minister for Bihar told us that maybe October will not also be feasible because it is the middle of the year and so the government should postpone the deadline to April 2011.

Also the empowered group of state finance ministers is going to be meeting on the January 7, 8 discussing the revenue neutral rates, which is the most important issue as well as the draft constitutional amendment.

They will also be meeting the Finance Minister in January and discussing the draft constitutional amendment. That is when more clarity is expected. In any case, it is expected that on the rate and date more clarity will happen in the budget speech of the Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta, Chairman, Empowered Group of State Finance Ministers said, “For certain difficulties, it was reported to us that it may be difficult to introduce the goods and services tax amendment in this winter session.”