Who is the Chairperson of GST Council ?
Union Finance Minister
The Union Finance Minister chairs the GST Council — option 4.
The constitutional basis. The Council was created by Article 279A, inserted by the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016, which brought in the Goods and Services Tax. It is therefore a constitutional body, not a statutory or executive one.
| Composition under Article 279A |
|---|
| Chairperson — the Union Finance Minister |
| The Union Minister of State in charge of Revenue or Finance |
| The Minister in charge of Finance or Taxation, or any other Minister nominated, from each state |
| The states choose one of their number as Vice-Chairperson |
How it decides. Every decision needs a majority of not less than three-fourths of the weighted votes of the members present and voting, where the Centre’s vote carries one-third of the total weight and all the states together carry two-thirds. The quorum is one-half of the total members. The arithmetic is deliberate: the Centre alone cannot pass a proposal, and the states alone cannot pass one either — neither side can be overridden by the other, which is why the Council is described as an exercise in cooperative federalism.
What it recommends. The taxes to be subsumed into GST, the goods and services to be taxed or exempted, the model laws and principles of levy, the rate slabs and floor rates, and special provisions for the north-eastern and hill states. In Mohit Minerals (2022) the Supreme Court held that the Council’s recommendations are persuasive, not binding on the Union and the states.
Why the other options fail. The RBI Governor conducts monetary policy and has no role in taxation. The Finance Commission, under Article 280, recommends the division of tax proceeds between the Centre and the states — a related but distinct function, and its chairman does not sit on the Council. The Minister of Corporate Affairs administers company law.
Hence, the answer is the Union Finance Minister.
Similar Questions
The primary function of the Finance Commission in India is to
Important Questions from Constitutional Bodies
Who among the following is the only President of India to have completed two terms in office till date?
Consider the following statements: Attorney General of India can
1. take part in the proceedings of the Lok Sabha
2. be a member of a committee of the Lok Sabha
3. speak in the Lok Sabha
4. vote in the Lok Sabha
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which article of the Indian Constitution deals with the vesting of the superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission?
Who will remain the Attorney General of India till June 30, 2022?
Choose the correct alternative:
The Chairman of a Joint Public Service Commission for two or more States is appointed by
