GST council set to amend alcohol tax laws, enable dispute settlement
New Delhi: In a bid to streamline taxation and resolve persistent disputes, the GST Council is gearing up to amend tax laws concerning extra neutral alcohol (ENA), a key component in liquor production. These changes aim to clarify that ENA should not be subject to GST, potentially bringing much-needed relief to the spirits industry by avoiding dual taxation.
The amendments, slated for review at the upcoming GST Council meeting, follow recommendations from a committee tasked with drafting legislative changes to ensure ENA remains outside the GST regime—a decision first taken at the GST Council’s 52nd meeting on October 7 last year, according to two people with the Centre-state discussions. clarifying ENA's tax status.
Industry experts have welcomed the move, emphasizing its potential to bring uniformity in taxation and operational clarity to alcohol producers nationwide.
“Making sure that ENA is taxed only under the excise duty regime and bringing clarity to the GST laws to that effect will bring relief to the industry and help in reducing litigation as the taxation of this commodity will become uniform across the country,” said Rajat Mohan, executive director at accounting and advisory firm Moore Singhi.
Moreover, the Council is set to discuss empowering the GST Appellate Tribunal to handle cases related to GST-driven profiteering, a responsibility currently overseen by the Competition Commission of India.
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Karnataka School Edu Dept prohibits children from being made to dance to obscene songs
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka School Education Department has issued a circular strictly prohibiting children from being made to dance to obscene songs in educational and cultural programmes.
It stated that such dances would negatively impact students' mental health and moral values. It will create indiscipline and harm the sanctity of education.
"All the Deputy Directors (Administration) of the state's School Education Department have been asked to take strict measures to prevent children or students from dancing to obscene songs in all government, aided and unaided schools in the state," the office of the commissioner of the School Education Department said in a recent circular.
"If it is found that children are being made to dance to obscene songs, appropriate action will be taken against the headmaster or management of such school," it added.
The department also listed certain measures in this regard, which include: strictly prohibiting children from being made to dance to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes; selecting songs that are inspiring, positive, instilling national pride in children and reflecting the greatness, dignity, values, culture, and morality of the state.
Stating that the school headmaster and management are responsible for selecting songs and dances for cultural programmes, it said, they should also ensure that students wear decent clothes in dance or cultural programmes.
