Group of ministers set up on GST issues relating to lottery

The GoM has Maharashtra finance minister Sudhir Mungantwar, Kerala finance minister TM Thomas Isaac, West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra, Assam finance minister Himanta Biswas Sarma, Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Karnataka finance minister Krishna Byre Gowda and Arunachal Pradesh finance minister Jarkar Gamlin as its members.

The Group of Ministers has been tasked with assessing any disparity in tax structure on the same product/commodity and suggest whether to continue with it or prescribe uniform rates for both. It will also look into whether private persons authorised by the states are misusing the lower rate and getting enriched themselves at the cost of the state and suggest measures to curb it. It will examine any other issue related to enforcement including the legal frame work, so as to prevent evasion of tax on lottery and suggest appropriate tax rate to address the problem.

The GoM on issues relating to lottery shall be assisted by a committee of officials from the centre and the states as convened by the GoM. Manish Sinha, joint secretary (TRU-II), CBIC will unction as secretary of the GoM on issues relating to lottery. The GoM for lottery has been asked to submit its report to GST Council by the next Meeting for consideration of the GST Council.