Nandan Nilekani to head SPV on GST network

NEW DELHI: The empowered group of state finance ministers on GST approved the setting up of a special purpose vehicle, called the GST Network, headed by Nandan Nilekani. The SPV will be responsible for implementing the IT infrastructure needed to roll out GST, one of the country's most ambitious tax reforms.

"In today's meeting, we have approved the SPV and requested Nilekani to go ahead with the IT infrastructure . The SPV would solely be responsible for running of the GST portal," said Sushil Modi, chairman of the Empowered Group of State finance ministers. The States and Centre along with a technology company will be partners in the SPV. Modi, who is also the finance minister and deputy chief minister of Bihar, said the empowered group has also decided to submit its final report on GST to the standing committee of finance. The standing committee is examining the constitutional amendment bill on the issue. The GST roll out has missed several deadlines due to opposition from states.

"In the next 15-20 days we will submit a comprehensive report on GST to the standing committee detailing every issue where we have convergence with the Centre and points of difference," Modi told TOI.