NEW DELHI — The GST Council is set to meet on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, to consider two agenda items that could reshape tax data transparency and health‑care pricing. Sources familiar with the agenda say the council will examine a proposal to widen access to GST transaction data for research and policy analysis, and a separate recommendation to grant tax relief on medicines for rare diseases.
The council, chaired by Finance Minister Shri Jitendra Singh, meets quarterly to resolve disputes between the Centre and states and to fine‑tune the nation’s indirect‑tax regime. In its latest meeting, the body is expected to review a draft resolution prepared by the Ministry of Finance that would allow selected public‑policy institutes, academic bodies and industry associations to access anonymised GST data through a secure portal.
Broader data sharing under review
Under the current framework, GST data is shared with the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and a limited set of government agencies for compliance monitoring. The proposed expansion would create a tiered access model, permitting vetted entities to download aggregated transaction data for economic research, supply‑chain analysis and fiscal‑policy modelling. A senior GST Council official told reporters that the move aims to “enhance evidence‑based policymaking while safeguarding taxpayer confidentiality.”
Industry groups have welcomed the idea, noting that real‑time insights into consumption patterns could improve forecasting and reduce the lag in economic indicators. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has previously urged the government to make GST data more readily available, arguing that it would help businesses plan inventory and pricing more effectively.
Privacy advocates, however, cautioned that any data‑sharing mechanism must incorporate robust anonymisation safeguards. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is reportedly tasked with drafting the technical specifications for the portal, including encryption standards and audit trails.
Tax relief for rare‑disease medicines
The second item on Thursday’s docket concerns a tax concession for medicines used to treat rare diseases, also known as orphan drugs. The proposal, drafted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, seeks to reduce the GST rate on such medicines from the standard 12 percent to 5 percent.
Rare diseases affect an estimated 70 million Indians, according to the National Health Authority, and many of the required therapies are imported at high cost. Reducing the GST burden could lower retail prices by several percentage points, according to a health‑policy brief cited by the ministry.
Health Minister Dr Madhuri Kumar, who is expected to address the council, has previously highlighted the need for “affordable access to life‑saving treatments.” While no official quote is available in the briefing, ministry officials indicated that the relief would apply only to medicines listed on the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) for rare conditions.
State finance ministers are expected to weigh in on the fiscal impact. The Centre estimates that the reduced rate would cost the exchequer roughly ₹1.2 billion per annum, a marginal amount relative to the overall GST revenue of ₹12.5 trillion collected in the 2025‑26 fiscal year.
Implications for the fiscal framework
If approved, the data‑sharing initiative could set a precedent for greater openness in India’s tax administration. Analysts note that similar models in the United Kingdom and Canada have enabled academic research that informed policy adjustments, such as targeted subsidies and anti‑inflation measures.
On the health front, the rare‑disease concession aligns with the government’s broader “Ayushman Bharat” agenda, which seeks to expand coverage for high‑cost treatments. The move could also dovetail with the upcoming National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) review, scheduled for early 2027.
Both proposals are expected to be voted on by the council’s 31 members, which include the Union Finance Minister, the Union Minister of State for Finance, and the finance ministers of all states and union territories. A simple majority is required for adoption.
The council’s decisions will be communicated through a press release from the Ministry of Finance, and any approved measures will be incorporated into the GST (Amendment) Act via a Gazette notification.
