GST rollout: Live updates

At the midnight hour, with the chants of "Bharat Mata ki Jai", GST is now a reality 

GST is similar to the introduction of VAT when there was initial resistance 

Under GST, tax incidence will be transparent

GST will also make exports more competitive 

GST is the result of political consensus among different parties who have bridged their difference to come together on one platform

After the Constitutional amendment was passed last year, a GST Council was formed which has representatives from the Centre and the states. There were a total of 18 meetings and I congratulate the Council for completing the task of fixing the taxes on time. 

As finance minister in the previous government, I am privy to the amount of debates and discussions that were undertaken with state finance ministers and chief ministers. I was confident that GST was a matter of time.

GST is a culmination of 14-year-long process which was first mooted by the Kelkar special task force 

President of India Pranab Mukherjee is now speaking on GST

I express my thanks to the President of India to all those associated with the process of making GST a reality

GST is "good and simple tax": PM Modi

GST is a tax for New India, it is an economic reform and a social reform too

GST will play an important part in achieving the goal of 'New India' by 2022

GST will provide opportunity to those states that have been lagging behind to grow at a faster pace 

I want to tell the skeptics that with a little effort we can adjust to the new system. GST has had a positive impact on global investor community. 

I hope the traders will pass on the benefits from GST to the common man

The introduction of GST will not put any burden on common man. This new tax system will prove beneficial for the people.

GST is a system that will end corruption and engender transparency and good governance

Because of myriad of taxes, same commodity is available at different prices in different states but this confusion will be dealt with by the introduction of GST. Because of entry tax, trucks had to wait for long hours and perishable goods were at greater risk of getting spoilt but all this will end because of GST.

Sardar Vallabhai Patel united the country politically by integrating all the princely states into the Indian Union and with the implementation of GST, the country is being unified once again economically. 

There was a great deal of doubt but we have managed to overcome all difficulties.

The present GST is the result of a long period of debates and discussions. It is an example of cooperative federalism. It is an example of Team India's collective effort. 

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh skips GST launch event owing to Congress' boycott of the ceremony

The new India will create one tax, one nation and one market: Arun Jaitley

Arun Jaitley opens the GST rollout session in Parliament's Central Hall.

Vice President Hamid Ansari arrives in Parliament

PM Modi arrives in Parliament

Lawmakers arrive in Parliament to arrive launch of GST

Lawmakers arrive in Parliament to celebrate launch of GST

Joint session of Parliament to begin at midnight. MPs to mark the beginning of the new tax regime.

Only three midnight sessions of the Parliament have been held till date

Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation call for bandh and protests across the Valley against the implementation of GST in the state: Reports

Prominent trade bodies and civil society members have threatened to launch a “civil disobedience movement” if the state government goes ahead with implementing GST

The J&K government is demanding a say in the imposition of taxes by the GST Council.  It wants safeguards for protection of Section 5 of the J&K Constitution which gives powers to it to impose taxes. The state government wants a Presidential order to be issued under Article 370 which accords it special powers to legislate on financial matters

Next three GST Council meetings to be held on the first Saturday of the month starting from August 2017: ANI

Also present will be BJP president Amit Shah, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha, RBI Governor Urjit Patel, former governors Bimal Jalan, YV Reddy and D Subbarao, Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) Shashi Kant Pai, former CAG Vinod Rai, TN Chaturvedi, Niti Ayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya, Metro Man, E Sreedharan, journalist S Gurumurthy, father of the Green Revolution MS Swaminathan, UPSC Chairman David R Syiemlieh, Chairman Central Board of Excise & Customs Vanaja N Sarna and Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes Sushil Chandra

Those who will be present for the launch ceremony include President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, PM Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Former PM HD Deva Gowda, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, actor Amitabh Bachchan, industrialist Ratan Tata, former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, National Conference leader Abdul Rahim, former GST Council chairman Sushil Kumar Modi, Former finance minister of West Bengal Asim Dasgpta, Former finance minister of Kerala  KK Mani

 Here's the schedule for the mega-event
 

10:55 pm: President arrives at Parliament House
11:00 pm: President arrives at Parliament's Central Hall 
11:01pm: National Anthem to be played, followed by introductory remarks by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
11:10pm: Presentation on GST 
11:15pm: Address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
11:45pm: Address by the President of India
12:00am: Launch of GST
12:04am: Playing of the National Anthem
12:05am: President leaves

GST will make India a formal, easier and simpler, a more revenue generating economy and one tax, one country economy. Will give a push to 'Make in India': Niti Ayog CEO Amitabh Kant

With a simplified compliance model and free flow of goods and services, Indian Start up & E-commerce scene will get a big impetus: Amitabh Kant

160,000 new businesses register on GSTN (Goods and Services Network) in four days! New businesses have 30 days to register on the GSTN portal beginning June 25: Amitabh Kant

Government spending higher by 55% in April-May. Capital expenditure rose 63% to 54000 Cr fm 33000 cr last yr. Will provide a jumpstart to economy: Amitabh Kant

A special session of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly is being held from July 4 to discuss the implementation to build consensus over the implementation of GST in the state: ANI
 

Given the atmosphere in country of vindictively targeting anyone who dares to disagree with the Central government. I am deeply concerned that the arrest clause in GST may well be used to target business leaders who raise voice of dissent on any policy matter/any practices: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee
 

At midnight of 30th June, 2017, freedom and democracy stand to face grave danger. The mockery of Inspector Raj is back: Mamata Banerjee
 

With implementation of GST from 1st July 2017, the existing tax payers do not have to apply for  any fresh registration: Minister for Transport Nitin Gadkari