Meet 'GST': Mother names child after India's biggest tax reform - Know why

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) came into force after 17 tumultuous years of debate at the stroke of midnight on June 30.

Pic courtesy: PTI

Jaipur: A baby born on midnight of June 30-July 01 in Rajasthan has been named 'GST'.

His mother decided to name him 'GST' as he was born at 12.02 am in Beawa.

Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje tweeted about it saying:

Live long & healthy Baby GST! https://t.co/7gz8cOLVdL

— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) July 2, 2017

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) - India's biggest tax reform since independence - came into force after 17 tumultuous years of debate at the stroke of midnight on June 30.

The new tax regime was ushered in at a late night event in the historic Central Hall of Parliament.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the new levy as "good and simple tax" that marks economic integration of India.

"There are 500 types of taxes that play their roles. Today we are getting rid of them," PM Modi had said.

"From Ganganagar to Itanagar and Leh to Lakshadweep, it is one nation, one tax," he had added.

Besides PM Modi, the starry midnight launch was attended by President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and former PM HD Deve Gowda.

President Mukherjee and PM Modi pressed a button in a specially crafted box at the stroke of midnight to launch the new tax regime which overnight replaced the messy mix of more than a dozen state and central levies built up over seven decades.

The government promises that the transition to a single, nationwide tax on goods and services will streamline business and boost the economy by tearing down barriers between 31 states and union territories.

(With PTI inputs)