GST Council announces new reforms, scraps arrest powers for GST officers

The GST Council has decided to remove arrest powers under GST and raise the prosecution threshold from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore. The general penalty will fall from ₹25,000 to ₹10,000, while courts will decide punishments without mandatory minimums. Late filing, errors and payment delays will attract recovery, interest and proportionate penalties instead of criminal action under the new reforms.