CII Chandigarh Organises Interactive Session on Recommendations of 57th GST Council Meeting

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Chandigarh, organised an interactive session on the recommendations of the 57th GST Council Meeting held on October 8, 2026, bringing together industry representatives, tax professionals and senior government officials to deliberate on the proposed GST reforms and their implications for trade and industry. The session witnessed participation from over 100 delegates.

The programme commenced with an address by Ajmer Singh Bisla, Senior Advisor, CII, who welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of constructive engagement between the government and industry for a more transparent, efficient and business-friendly taxation system.

CS Sanjay Malhotra, Indirect Tax Expert and Trade Advisor, presented the key recommendations of the 57th GST Council Meeting. He appreciated the efforts of the Hon’ble Union Finance Minister and the GST Council in considering and accepting several important proposals put forward by trade and industry. He highlighted the significance of ease-of-process initiatives and structural reforms relating to GST registration, return filing, faster refunds, reduction in litigation and clarification of various provisions. He observed that these measures would help simplify compliance, improve certainty and strengthen the confidence of taxpayers.

The occasion was graced by Sunil Katiyar (IRS), Principal Additional Director General, NACIN, Chandigarh, and Rajan Datt (IRS), Commissioner, CGST (Audit), Panchkula, as Guests of Honour. Rajan Datt’s contribution as a member of the Law Committee, particularly in taking forward key reform proposals to the CBIC and GST Secretariat, was acknowledged. Several of these proposals have now received approval, reflecting the value of institutional engagement and industry feedback in shaping tax policy.

The session was followed by a panel discussion led by Parveen Kashyap, Director, Grant Thornton, Chandigarh. The panel comprised Baljit Singh Khara, retired IRS officer and former Assistant Director, NACIN; Manpreet Kaur, General Manager – Indirect Tax, Escorts Kubota; CA Sandeep Mehta and Nitin Aneja, Head – North, ClearTax. The panellists deliberated on the practical implications of the GST Council’s recommendations, compliance challenges and the expectations of industry from the evolving GST framework. They further addressed GST-related issues raised by trade members during the workshop, facilitating an interactive exchange of views and providing insights into practical tax matters confronting businesses.

The session concluded with a strong emphasis on continued collaboration among policymakers, tax administrators, industry representatives and professionals to ensure that GST reforms translate into tangible benefits for taxpayers. The participation of over 100 delegates reflected the keen interest of trade and industry in the ongoing evolution of India’s GST regime.

Young moderators Kanwalpreet Kaur, Monika Dhiman and Neha Sharma warmly welcomed the members from CGST offices and industry stakeholders.