Shimla: In the 52nd GST Council meeting in New Delhi, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan led the Himachal Pradesh delegation.

 During the meeting, it was decided to exempt Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) used in liquor production from the 18% GST. 

Chauhan advocated for further simplification by exempting ENA used for industrial purposes from GST, emphasizing that this would streamline compliance without impacting revenue. This proposal garnered widespread support.

The Himachal Pradesh delegation, including Principal Secretary Excise Bharat Khera, Commissioner Dr. Yunus, and Additional Commissioner Excise Rakesh Sharma, engaged with representatives from other states to learn about successful GST revenue enhancement practices.

Chauhan emphasized Himachal Pradesh's commitment to facilitating taxpayer compliance while ensuring transparent and effective GST implementation.