Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said the final decision on a rate cut can only be taken by the GST Council

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said the Centre is in consultation with the state governments and will take a call on whether or not to reduce the GST rate on automobiles. However, the final decision to reduce the rate can only be taken by the GST Council.

According to the Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the Union Ministry of Finance has been in consultations with various state governments and could bring in a rate reduction via the GST Council.

"I am confident that the Finance Ministry with discussion with the state governments and if it is possible, they are very positive, they will take a decision (sic)," the minister said at the launch event of the BSVI variant of Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India's Activa.

Lately, the country's automobile industry, which has been heavily dented by the consumption slowdown, has been demanding a reduction in GST from 28 to 18 per cent.

On automobile scrapping, the minister said that the government will support the industry and non-industry players to set up scrap yards and bring in new technologies in this arena.

In addition, he told the gathering at the launch event that the Petroleum Ministry is ready to give its consent for setting up of Ethanol fuel pumps in the country.