While answering to an RTI query, an agency under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has said that the Central government spent Rs 132.38 crore on advertisements for GST.
As per the Bureau of Outreach and Communication under the ministry, the “expenditure on GST advertisements through this bureau” on print media stood at Rs 1,26,93,97,121.
It, however, said there was “nil” expenditure for the same on electronic media. For outdoor media, the expenditure for GST advertisement stood at Rs 5,44,35,502, the bureau said in its RTI response dated August 9, 2018.
The bureau was replyig to query on the sum spent by the Centre on advertising and awareness campaigns on GST.
India’s landmark indirect tax reform, i.e, Goods and Services Tax, finally became a reality on 1st July 2017. The new tax regime began with the speech of the President of India.
Under the new tax regime, all the prevailing indirect taxes except customs duty will be subsumed.
Even moths before the GST rollout, the Government started promotion and awareness of the new tax law as it had a huge impact on the trade and industry.
The government had also roped in Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan as brand ambassador to promote GST and inform people about its benefits. The Central Board of Indirect Tax and Customs (CBIC) had also issued a set of 50 FAQs on various provisions of GST in the form of full-page advertisements in newspapers, answering queries of traders and business.
The Bombay High Court, in January this year expressed a view that the Country had yet not seen a celebration of New Tax regime, but that has followed with great hue and cry.
“These celebrations mean nothing. The special sessions of Parliament or special or extraordinary meetings of Council would mean nothing to the assessees unless they obtain easy access to the website and portals,” the Court said.
