The 57th GST Council meeting has been rescheduled to October 8. It will meet in New Delhi. The session was earlier slated for October 7. The Council Secretariat cited unavoidable circumstances for the change. This is the second time the meeting has been rescheduled.

The Council is chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. It includes finance ministers and representatives from states and Union Territories. This will be its first meeting in over a year. The last meeting was held in September 2025.

The agenda focuses on process and enforcement reforms rather than rate changes. Key proposals include removing arrest powers from GST officers. The prosecution threshold may rise from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore. The Council may also allow employers to claim input tax credit on employee insurance premiums. Simpler registration, faster refunds and relief for small businesses are also on the table. Decisions will need the Council’s approval before any change takes effect.