The Modi government finally crossed the Rajya Sabha hurdle — where its lacks a majority — after more than 18 months of tough negotiations with Congress paved the way for implementation of the legislation. The government’s ability to steer the Constitution amendment through choppy political waters was seen as a test of its commitment to economic reforms.

There were some dramatic moments as finance minister Arun Jaitley and his

No party opposed the Constitution amendment and AIADMK was the sole entity to express its dissatisfaction and stage a walkout. The GST bill was approved by a 203-0 vote with a lack of fuss that belied the long drawn negotiations and acrimonious exchanges that saw it being stalled in Parliament.

The next steps require sustained efforts as 50% of states must approve the legislation. The setting up of the GST council is a vital element as the entity will determine the GST rate and institute a dispute resolution mechanism.

While the rollout date of April 1, 2017 seems daunting, the government must reach a consensus on the rate which does not hurt consumers but also protects the revenue needs of states and is also non-inflationary. Congress’s demand to cap the rate at 18% is a political challenge as the party argues that this protects the interests of the poor.

Jaitley and Chidambaram, both eminent lawyers, engaged in an engrossing verbal duel as the finance minister argued that he could not pronounce on yet-to-drafted legislation while also pointing out that eight state finance ministers belonging to Congress are part of the empowered committee. Chidambaram’s insistence on an assurance that the legislation to follow will not be money bills was linked to Congress demand that the rate be capped at 18%.

Jaitley did not offer any specific assurance but said the House would be taken into confidence. The voting process began as deputy chairman P J Kurien assured leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad that the subsequent bills would involve discussions with Congress. In the end, Congress did not find any support from other opposition parties.

The proposed levy will be a single tax that will cover all levies at the Centre and state level including entry tax and cut through the maze of indirect taxes that hampers free movement of goods and discourages investors. It is expected to lower the burden on consumers and add 1-2 percentage points to the national GDP. It will help curb tax evasion and usher in transparency and should translate into revenue gains for the Centre and states.

The legislation is part of a series of measures and laws passed by the NDA government to improve ease of doing business and reduce discretionary powers in the hands of officials and ministers. Other important steps include the bankruptcy code, debt recovery laws, Aadhaar-linked benefits, a supportive environment for start-ups, cleanup of bank NPAs and initiatives to boost Indian manufacturing.