Jammu and Kashmir to switch to GST by July 6: State finance minister

Jammu and Kashmir will introduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the first week of July, the state finance minister Haseeb A Drabu said in Parliament on the sidelines of the event to launch India’s biggest indirect taxes reform.

The state assembly will meet on July 4 and take it up after which the cabinet is expected to approve it on July 5. “We are hoping to send it for President’s approval the next day,” Drabu told Hindustan Times.

“So by 6th of July, GST should be approved for implementation,” Drabu, who attended the launch function, said.

Barring J&K, all states have implemented the initiative that would create a unified tax across the country.

Earlier, finance minister Arun Jaitley wrote to chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed urging her to implement GST in the valley to avoid any increase in prices.

Drabu earlier said the government will factor in constitutional, legislative, administrative and institutional issues distinct to the state while implementing the GST.