GST exemption on Amphotericin B and Tocilizumab has been extended from September 30, 2021, to December 31, 2021. 

Reduced rate of GST @5% available to COVID-19 medicines including Remdesivir, Heparin, 2-Deoxy-D-Glucosemade and monoclonal antibodies like Casirivimab and Imdevimab has been extended from September 30, 2021, to December 31, 2021 

• Pembrolizumab, sold under the brand name Keytruda used as an antibody in cancer immunotherapy to treat lung, stomach, head, and neck cancer. 

• Itolizumab, an antibody used for patients with COVID-19. 

• Posaconazole an antifungal agent. 

• Infliximab used in treatment of arthritis. 

• Favipiravir, Bamlanivimab & Etesevima used for COVID-19 treatment. 

To reduce the cost of serving food in Anganwadi under the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme and Mid-Day Meals Schemes, the GST Council has recommended reduction in GST on Fortified Rice Kernels classifiable under HSN 19049090, from 18% to 5%.  

Notification No.12/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated June 28, 2017, provides for Nil rate of GST on skill training if 100% funded by the Government. The GST Council has recommended to extend this exemption to skill training for which the Government bears 75% or more of the expenditure.  

In response to the direction of the Kerala High Court, based on a writ petition to decide levy of GST on petrol and diesel, the member states of the GST Council have unanimously rejected the proposal and opted not to include petroleum products under the GST regime at this stage. 

GST on biodiesel supplied to oil marketing companies (OMCs) for blending with diesel reduced from 12% to 5%. 

The Director-General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) is empowered to issue an Essentiality Certificate to Exploration & Production (E&P) operators to undertake E&P operations in India. Based on the said certificate, E&P operators avail exemption from customs duty on goods imported for E&P operations. The said certificate is applied online. Under the Goods and Service Tax Regime, stock transfers are taxable. However, stock transfers by E&P operators stand exempted provided operators have NOC from the DGH. Operators apply for NOC through filing a physical application. To ease trade operations in the E&P sector, the GST Council recommends waiving the NOC requirement making the essentiality certificate an eligible document to undertake stock transfers without payment of tax. 

GST on ores and concentrates of metals classified under Chapter 26 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 under tariff heading 2601, i.e., iron, under tariff heading 2608, i.e., zinc, under tariff heading 2603, i.e., copper, under tariff heading 2606, i.e., aluminium, increased from 5% to 18%. 

It is clarified that services by way of grant of mineral exploration and mining rights attract GST rate of 18% w.e.f. 01.07.2017. 

• GST on supply of bricks increased from 5% to 12%.  

• Composition scheme has been extended to brick kilns with effect from April 01, 2022. The dealers opting for the composition scheme will pay GST@6% on supply of bricks. Dealers not opting for composition scheme will have to pay GST @12% with input tax credit facility. 

GST has been increased from 12% to 18% on – 

• Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling stock and parts thereof 

• Railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof  

GST rate increased from 5% to 12% on specified renewable energy devices and parts classified under Chapter 84, 85 or 94 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. 

GST on setting up of a renewable energy system clarified. On December 31, 2018, the Government, through a Notification (27/2018), amended the law providing that if renewable energy devices were supplied along with a supply of other goods and taxable services towards setting up, then 70% of the gross consideration is to be deemed as ‘value of supply of goods’ attracting GST of 5% and the remaining 30 % shall be ‘value of services’ attracting GST @18%. GST Council clarifies that on specified Renewable Energy Projects, GST can be paid in terms of 70:30 ratio respectively for goods and services from July 01, 2017 to December 31, 2018 following the manner prescribed for the period on or after January 01, 2019. 

Purchase of Mentha Oil [Peppermint Oil] from unregistered suppliers to attract GST @12% under reverse charge mechanism. 

Food Aggregators like Swiggy and Zomato, providing restaurant services, to collect GST @5% [w.e.f. January 01, 2022]. 

GST Council clarifies that Brewers’ Spent Grain (BSG), Dried Distillers’ Grains with Soluble (DDGS) and other such residues, are to be classified under heading 2303, which reads for “Residues of starch manufacture and similar residues, beet-pulp, bagasse and other waste of sugar manufacture, brewing or distilling dregs and waste, whether or not in the form of pellets” and shall attract GST @5%. 

It is clarified that scented sweet supari and flavoured and coated illachi fall under heading 2106, which reads for “food preparations not elsewhere specified or included (other than a roasted gram), sweetmeats, batters including idli/dosa batter, namkeens, bhujia, mixture, chabena and similar edible preparations in ready for consumption form, khakhra, chutney powder, diabetic foods” and attract GST @ 18%.  

Under the current tax structure, aerated drinks are classified under sub-heading 220210 attracting GST @28% plus a compensation cess of 12% and non-aerated drinks (including fruit juice-based drinks) are classified under sub-heading 22029920, attracting GST of 12% and sub-heading 22029100 [Other non-alcoholic beverages (other than tender coconut water and caffeinated beverages)] attracting GST @18%. GST Council clarified that “Carbonated Fruit Beverages of Fruit Drink” and “Carbonated Beverages with Fruit Juice” to attracts GST@ 28% with Cess of 12%. 

Tamarind seeds fall under heading 1209 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, which reads for “Seeds, fruit and spores, of a kind used for sowing” will attract Nil rate of GST, irrespective of its use.  

GST Council clarified that cloud kitchens/central kitchens are covered under ‘restaurant service’ and attract GST @5%, without input tax credit. 

Supply of Ice creams by Ice Cream parlour to attract GST @18%.  

Alcoholic liquor for human consumption is not classifiable as food and food products. 

GST Council recommends increasing GST on licensing services/ right to broadcast and show original films, sound recordings, and radio and television programmes from 12% to 18%.  

GST on services by way of printing and reproduction services of recorded media where content is supplied by the publisher (to bring it on parity with colour printing of images from film or digital media) classifiable under Service Accounting Code 9989, which reads for “Services by way of printing of all goods falling under Chapter 48 or 49 including newspapers, books (including Braille books), journals and periodicals], which attract CGST @6 % or @2.5% or Nil, where only content is supplied by the publisher and the physical inputs including paper used for printing belong to the printer” is increased from 12% to 18%.  

It is clarified that admission to amusement parks having rides etc. attracts GST @18% classifiable under Service Accounting Code 9996, which reads for “services by way of admission to amusement parks including theme parks, water parks, joy rides, merry-go-rounds, go-carting and ballet and not classifiable as services by way of admission to entertainment events or access to amusement facilities including casinos, race club, any sporting event such as Indian Premier League attracting GST @28%  

The 25th GST Council Meeting, held in New Delhi on January 18, 2018, proposed that the transportation of goods from India to outside India be exempted from GST until September 30, 2018. Accordingly, vide Notification No.2/2018 – Integrated Tax (Rate), dated January 25, 2018, the Central Government amended Notification No. 9/2017 – Integrated Tax (Rate), dated June 28, 2017, exempting services of transportation of goods by air and sea from India to outside India from IGST until September 30, 2018. This exemption was subsequently extended till September 2021.  

Now, the 45th GST Council meeting has decided to extend the above exemption up to September 09, 2022. 

Service by way of E-Commerce Operators i.e., Ola & Uber, are being made liable to pay tax on transport of passengers [w.e.f. January 01, 2022]. 

The GST Council recommends that GST on services by way of grant of National Permit to goods carriages on payment of fee be redeuced from 18% to Nil. 

GST on Retro fitment kits for vehicles used by the physically disabled currently taxed @28% as normal vehicle as Tariff Item 87112019 reduced to 5%.  

The GST Council recommends exempting overloading charges at toll plazas, being akin to toll. 

The GST Council clarified that the service of ‘giving on hire’ classifiable under Service Accounting Code 9966, which reads for, “Services by way of giving on hire – (a) to a state transport undertaking, a motor vehicle meant to carry more than twelve passengers; or (aa) to a local authority, an Electrically operated vehicle meant to carry more than twelve passengers; or Explanation.- For the purposes of this entry, “Electrically operated vehicle” means vehicle falling under Chapter 87 in the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975) which is run solely on electrical energy derived from an external source or from one or more electrical batteries fitted to such road vehicle. (b) to a goods transport agency, a means of transportation of goods. (c) motor vehicle for transport of students, faculty and staff, to a person providing services of transportation of students, faculty and staff to an educational institution providing services by way of pre-school education and education upto higher secondary school or equivalent” in addition to “Services by way of giving on hire – (a) to a state transport undertaking, a motor vehicle meant to carry more than twelve passengers; or (aa) to a local authority, an electrically operated vehicle meant to carry more than twelve passengers” shall also include the supply of renting of vehicle by the State Transport Undertakings and Local Authorities and it would qualify for exemption from GST.