The Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers held a meeting under the Chairmanship of Shri Arun Jaitely, Union Finance Minister, on 20th March, 2015, in New Delhi. 14 Ministers from the States and Union Territories attended the meeting. Consultations were held for the selection of a new chairman of the Empowered Committee and there was agreement to request the Union Finance Minister to select the Chairman in consultation with the State Finance Ministers who could not attend the meeting due to various reasons like Budget Session in their respective States. Based on wide consultations with all the States and Union Territories, there is general consensus that Shri K.M. Mani, Minister of Finance, Law and Housing, Kerala, may take over as the new Chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers. This is an important development for the implementation of Goods and Services Tax with effect from 1st April, 2016.

Goods and Services Tax leadership: new Empowered Committee chair named by consensus to advance GST implementation. Selection of a new chair for the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers was effected through intergovernmental consultation to facilitate implementation of the Goods and Services Tax. Broad consultations among states and union territories produced a consensus candidate to assume the chairmanship to strengthen committee governance and coordination in the GST transition process.