The government announced the setting up of an eight-member ministerial panel, headed by Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma, to examine the issue of concessions or exemptions to Covid-19 materials like vaccines, oxygen concentrators, hand sanitisers, testing and PPE kits, masks, ventilators and temperaturechecking equipment.
The fitment committee comprising officers had recommended a reduction in rates for a number of items. While nine states wanted Covid materials to be zero-rated (which means the entire value chain to be exempted while providing tax credits to manufacturers), three states pushed for 5%. TheCentrehas said it was not clear if the benefit of lower rates on vaccines or other goods will flow to the end consumer.