(a) whether the Government has advised the States
to reduce the sales tax on the petroleum products;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the time by when such sales tax is likely to be reduced?
(a) whether the Government has advised the States
to reduce the sales tax on the petroleum products;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the time by when such sales tax is likely to be reduced?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI S.S.PALANIMANICKAM)
(a) to (c): The sales tax on petroleum products is levied by the State Governments by virtue of
Entry 54 of List II of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. However, with the objective of
containing the adverse effects of the global oil price rise, the Central Government had
requested the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers in June, 2008 to consider
reducing the sales tax on petroleum products. Since the decision on the sales tax rates
on petroleum products falls under the purview of the State Governments, no time frame
can be given by the Central Government in this regard.