Events

Speaker:
Mr. Sandeep Chilana, Founder, Chilana & Chilana Law Offices, New Delhi

Moderator:
Dr. Namita Wahi, Senior Fellow, CPR & Founding Director, Land Rights Initiative

This is the eighth in a series of talks on “Legal History” as part of the Land Rights Initiative Speaker Series. This series is part of the Land Rights Initiative’s 10 year anniversary celebrations.

This event will be held in hybrid mode at the CPR Conference Room (Dharma Marg, New Delhi) and online over Zoom. Please register below to attend either in person or via Zoom. Refreshments will be served.

About the talk:
This session delves into the historical evolution and future trajectory of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India, underscoring its pivotal role in the country’s indirect tax reforms. By tracing its origins from ancient tax practices to the pre-GST taxation structures, the session will offer a detailed examination of the transformative journey of India’s tax system over the centuries. Key milestones from the pre- independence era to notable reforms in independent India will be highlighted, including the formation of the Kelkar Committee post 2000. This committee played a significant role in rationalising and simplifying tax laws, and proposed the concept of a unified GST system to streamline India’s intricate indirect tax framework. These efforts culminated in the eventual implementation of the GST regime, marking a watershed moment in the nation’s tax history.

The session will also provide an in-depth analysis of the GST framework, with a focus on the dual GST model adopted in India. It will address the challenges encountered during the implementation of GST and explore the ongoing initiatives by the GST Council aimed at rate rationalisation and system optimisation. Lastly, the discussion will offer a forward-looking perspective on GST, emphasising its transformative impact on the Indian economy while identifying key areas for further refinement and improvement to ensure sustained growth and efficiency in India’s tax system.

About the speaker: 
Mr. Sandeep Chilana specialises in tax laws with focus on strategic planning, advisory, and litigation services in the areas of Income Tax, Goods & Services Tax (GST), Customs, Excise, Service Tax, Value Added Tax, State Excise laws and Foreign Trade Policy. Prior to setting up Chilana & Chilana Law Offices, a niche tax advisory and litigation firm, Mr. Chilana worked with and led the indirect tax practice of Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, India’s leading law firm for commercial laws for more than 18 years. He has been well recognised in the industry as one of the thought leaders on GST laws and has successfully advised various domestic and multinational clients on implementation and transition issues relating to GST. He is also part of various expert committees of business chambers on GST.

Mr. Chilana has in-depth experience in advising various leading domestic and international clients on an array of critical tax issues including tax structuring, tax advocacy and policy especially negotiating fiscal incentives for greenfield projects. Mr. Chilana also regularly represents various clients on complicated tax litigation before various judicial fora including High Courts and the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. Mr. Chilana has worked extensively with clients from various sectors such as oil & gas, automotive, information technology, infrastructure, telecommunications, health care, and not-for-profit organisations. Mr. Chilana is a prolific speaker on various tax and international trade issues. He has also been extensively quoted in leading business and legal publications on various tax related issues.

Mr. Chilana graduated with a BCom. Degree from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University in 2002, and holds an LL.B. degree from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University. He has been an Advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi since 2005.