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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThe 57th GST Council meeting is expected to consider easing GST rules for small e-commerce sellers and exporters, changing the prosecution threshold, and revisiting arrest powers. These are proposals reported ahead of the meeting—not confirmed decisions. The Council’s post-meeting announcement and any required legal changes will determine what, if anything, takes effect.
When is the 57th GST Council meeting?
Reports conflict on the meeting date. Some said it was moved from 12 September to 7 October 2026, while several others referred to 8 October. The meeting was reported as being chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, but the date and venue should not be treated as confirmed without an official Council announcement.
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The agenda was not officially published in advance. The measures below were reported as expected or under consideration before the meeting, and may change or be omitted.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →What is reportedly proposed on GST arrest powers?
Press reports say the Council may consider removing the GST statute’s direct arrest power, with authorities instead relying on civil measures such as tax recovery, interest and proportionate penalties. One account described complete removal; another said the options may include requiring judicial authorisation. The final design is therefore uncertain.
A Finance Ministry official was reported as saying that safeguards included when the law was introduced in 2017 could now be relaxed because the system is better at detecting irregularities. This was an attributed paraphrase, not a verbatim quote. No change should be assumed until the Council’s decision and the necessary legal steps are clear.
Could the GST prosecution threshold rise to ₹5 crore?
BusinessToday reported that the Council was discussing raising the prosecution threshold from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore. This was a proposal, not an adopted threshold. The reports did not establish the precise scope or effective date of any change.
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How could e-commerce seller registration change?
BusinessToday reported that small sellers using e-commerce platforms may be allowed to treat a platform warehouse in another state as their place of business after one-time verification in their home state. Registration for sellers on major platforms may also be simplified, potentially with greater use of AI. These details were reported by BusinessToday; they were not confirmed in an official Council document.
If adopted as described, the approach could reduce the registration burden for sellers operating across state lines. The reported proposal does not establish which sellers would qualify, how verification would work, or when the arrangement might begin.
Which export rules may be clarified?
Reports said the Council may reassess export definitions to align them more closely with foreign-exchange-earning activity. Potentially covered cases include:
- Supplies billed through an exporter’s own overseas branch.
- Job work in India on goods belonging to a foreign client.
- Goods sold to an overseas buyer but delivered to a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on that buyer’s instructions.
A separate reported proposal would provide retrospective relief from a restriction on refunds for exporters who had used duty concessions on inputs. Reports also said export-of-services rules may be simplified for IT firms and Global Capability Centres (GCCs), with the aim of reducing compliance friction and speeding refunds. The exact wording, eligibility conditions and treatment of past claims were not established ahead of the meeting.
What other GST changes are reportedly on the agenda?
Other reported items point to a procedure-focused meeting rather than broad rate rationalisation. Coverage mentioned registration simplification, automated cancellation, transfer of input tax credit (ITC) across states, blocked ITC under Section 17(5), refunds for inverted-duty cases, and a proposal to protect compliant buyers when suppliers fail to deposit tax. A late-fee waiver for small taxpayers and a rate revision for molasses were also reported.
BusinessToday’s 6 October 2026 headline referred to “17 day refunds,” but the available reporting did not establish the detailed mechanism, eligibility or whether 17 days would be a binding service standard. Treat it as a reported reform claim, not a guaranteed refund timeline.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How are the proposals linked to state revenues?
The reported aim is to ease compliance while safeguarding—and potentially increasing—state revenues. A review of state revenues after “GST 2.0” was also reportedly on the agenda. The Council therefore faces a balance: reducing friction for sellers and exporters without weakening revenue collection. No official revenue estimate or quantified state impact was available in the pre-meeting reporting.
What must happen before a proposal becomes a GST rule?
A Council discussion or recommendation does not, by itself, confirm that a rule has changed. The final outcome depends on the Council’s post-meeting announcement and the legal route required for each measure. Changes that require amending the CGST Act would need that legislative step; other changes may require a notification or other implementation by the competent authority. Until those details are published, taxpayers should continue to follow the rules currently in force.
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