Centre, states working on GST e-way bill reform: Official

New Delhi: The Centre is engaging with states on revamping the e-way bill framework, which will come up in the next meeting of the GST Council, a source said. The Economic Survey last week said that the next wave of GST reforms could focus on reimagining the e-way bill system as a facilitator of smooth logistics rather than only as a tool for enforcement and control. The e-way bill reforms would amount to a significant deregulation of the logistics ecosystem, reducing costs and delays for trade while maintaining effective, non-intrusive oversight for tax administration.

"We are working with the states on e-way bill reform and will bring it before the GST Council," the source said. The GST Council, chaired by union Finance Minister and comprising state ministers, last met on September 3, 2025, in which it decided to cut tax rates on 375 items and rationalise slabs.

The e-way bill proposal will be placed before the GST Council once the consultations are over, the source added. The Survey suggested wider use of e-seals and electronic locking systems, integrated with e-way bills and vehicle-tracking technologies, to ensure secure, end-to-end tracking of consignments without routine stoppages on the road.

State governments, which play a key role in field-level enforcement, would have to be a key partner in the transition to a risk-based, system generated alerts and limiting discretionary checks.

The Survey also suggested a policy design with increased reliance on trust-based and technology-driven compliance models, such as a "trusted dealer" framework under which taxpayers with a strong compliance record face minimal physical checks and enjoy greater certainty in the movement of goods.