Railway catering services in trains, stations to attract 5% GST

The finance ministry today announced that a 5 per cent GST will be levied on food and drinks supplied by Indian Railways or Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. or their licensees, whether in trains or at platforms (static units).

The Finance Ministry has written to the Railway Board on March 31 about the 5 per cent rate to remove any doubt or uncertainty in the matter. The new announcement would bring about uniformity in the rate of GST applicable to supply of food and drinks made available in trains, platforms or stations.

“The GST rate on supply of food and drinks by the IRCTC, will be 5 per cent without input tax credit,” said the ministry in a statement.