 Agencies
New Delhi, Aug 3: In a historic landmark, the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the much debated Goods and Services Tax (GST) Amendment Bill after a 7-hour long debate in the Upper House.
The Constitutional Bill, passed late Wednesday night saw the main opposition, Congress and most parties on board.
The passage of the bill to amend the Constitution to facilitate rollout of the historic GST was passed amid government's assurance that the tax rates would be kept "as low as possible".
The Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014 was approved by the Upper House with 203 votes in favour and none against, after a seven-hour debate during which a rare bonhomie was witnessed among the ruling and the opposition parties.
Six official amendments, including scrapping of one per cent additional tax, moved by the government were approved with cent per cent votes.
Earlier during the day, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday tabled the long-pending Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
Replying to the debate on GST, Jaitley said that when GST system will become more efficient, there will be no tax on tax, evasion will become more difficult.
Emphasizing that rates under GST must come down, Jaitley added that the government will strive for a reasonable rate.
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