The Goods and Services Tax Council Secretariat has rescheduled the 57th Meeting of the GST Council for the second time. The meeting will now be held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 11:00 AM onwards at the Summit Room, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The rescheduling has been formally communicated vide Office Memorandum F. No. 1392/57th GSTCM/GSTC/2026 dated October 5, 2026, issued by the GST Council Secretariat. The Office Memorandum refers to the earlier O.M. bearing F. No. 1392/57/GSTCM/GSTC/2026 dated September 6, 2026. The Secretariat has stated that the meeting has been rescheduled on account of “unavoidable circumstances.”
The meeting was most recently scheduled for October 7, 2026, and will now take place a day later on October 8. As stated in the Office Memorandum, the change is to be brought to the attention of the Hon’ble Members of the GST Council. The memorandum also records that it has been issued with the approval of the Revenue Secretary, ex-officio Secretary to the GST Council, and is signed by Shaifali G. Singh, Commissioner, GST Council Secretariat.
Council Likely to Focus on Major GST Process Reforms
The 57th GST Council Meeting, chaired by the Union Finance Minister and comprising representatives of the States and Union Territories, is expected to deliberate upon a range of measures aimed at simplifying GST administration and reducing the compliance burden on taxpayers.
Among the important areas likely to come up for discussion are reforms in GST registration, return filing and refund mechanisms, along with measures to streamline procedures and make GST compliance more efficient and taxpayer-friendly.
The Council is also expected to consider policy and procedural reforms for resolution of GST disputes and measures aimed at improving the flow and availability of Input Tax Credit (ITC). Such reforms could help reduce avoidable litigation, working-capital blockage and the overall time and cost involved in GST compliance.
Decriminalisation and Arrest Provisions May Be Examined
According to the information provided, the Council may also consider broader reforms relating to decriminalisation of certain GST offences and possible changes concerning the arrest powers of GST officers. These proposals, if taken up and approved, could mark a significant shift towards a more facilitative and trust-based GST enforcement framework.
Measures for making GST compliance easier for businesses, including e-commerce suppliers, are also reportedly under consideration. The objective would be to remove procedural bottlenecks while maintaining appropriate safeguards for revenue.
Second Rescheduling of the 57th GST Council Meeting
This is the second rescheduling of the 57th GST Council Meeting. The meeting was originally proposed for September 12, 2026, but was subsequently shifted to October 7, 2026, reportedly in view of the BRICS Summit hosted by India in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. It has now been further rescheduled to October 8, 2026 because of unavoidable circumstances.
The Office Memorandum can be accessed at: https://a2ztaxcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/57th-GST-Council-Meeting-05.10.2026.pdf
