EconomyThursday, 8 October 2026·The Hindu - Economy
GST Council’s October 8 meeting to focus on compliance reforms, refunds and ITC changes
The 57th GST Council meeting on 8 October 2026 is expected to prioritise process reforms, faster refunds and compliance easing rather than rate changes.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On 8 October 2026 in New Delhi, the GST Council is scheduled to hold its 57th meeting, nine years after the GST system began on 1 July 2017, with the agenda expected to focus on compliance reforms and refunds.
Key specifics
- The GST system completed 9 years on 1 July 2026.
- The Council has met 56 times before the 57th meeting on 8 October 2026.
- The last meeting mentioned in the report was held on 3-4 September 2025.
- Experts said the current GST structure has 6 slabs, including Zero/Nil, 0.25% and 3%.
- Proposals include easier refunds for exporters, changes to Section 17(5), and single-State registration for nationwide sales.
Exam lens
Economy and taxation question type: GST Council, slabs, input tax credit, refunds, and compliance reforms. TNPSC may ask the meeting number, GST launch date, and the sections or reforms under discussion.