The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced on 1 July 2017 through the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act 2016. It is a destination-based, multi-stage, comprehensive indirect tax that replaced a complex web of central and state taxes including Central Excise Duty, Service Tax, VAT, and CST. GST is levied on the "supply" of goods and services — the term "supply" is the charging event, not manufacture, sale, or provision of service. India follows a dual GST model: Central GST (CGST) and State GST (SGST) are levied concurrently on intra-state supplies, while Integrated GST (IGST) is levied on inter-state supplies. The GST Council (Article 279A) is the constitutional body that recommends GST rates, exemptions, and policy.
Before You Start
🎯 Why learn this?
The scope of supply — including deemed supply, composite supply, and mixed supply — is the foundational concept tested in every CA Final GST question.
📚What you'll learn
- •Constitutional basis: Article 246A (concurrent power), Article 269A (IGST on inter-state supply)
- •GST Council: composition, quorum, voting weights, functions
- •Taxable event: "supply" under Section 7 — inclusive definition
- •Schedule I: activities treated as supply even without consideration (related party gifts >₹50K, permanent transfer of business )
- •Schedule II: activities classified as supply of goods or supply of services
- •Schedule III: activities/transactions treated as neither supply of goods nor services (e.g., employee services to employer, funeral services)
- •Composite supply vs mixed supply: tax rate determination
✅ After this chapter, you can…
- ✓Determine whether a transaction constitutes a "supply" under Section 7
- ✓Classify a transaction as supply of goods or supply of services using Schedule II
- ✓Apply the tax rates for composite and mixed supplies
💼 Real problems this solves at work
- →Determining GST liability when Tata Steel provides goods and installation services together
- →Classifying a free gift to a business associate as taxable supply under Schedule I
- →Advising on the GST treatment of a software subscription that includes hardware
01Scope of Supply — Section 7
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Section 7(1)(a) — Main supply | All forms of supply — sale, transfer, barter, exchange, licence, rental, lease, disposal — made for consideration in the course of furtherance of business |
| Section 7(1)(b) — Import of services | Import of services for consideration, whether or not in the course of business |
| Section 7(1)(c) — Schedule I | Activities specified in Schedule I made without consideration — still treated as supply (e.g., gifts >₹50K to unrelated persons, permanent transfer of business on which ITC was taken) |
| Section 7(2) — Not a supply | Activities listed in Schedule III — neither supply of goods nor services (employee–employer, actionable claims, land/building sale, funeral services) |
02Composite Supply and Mixed Supply
| Type | Definition | Tax Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Composite Supply | Two or more taxable supplies naturally bundled and supplied together, where one is the principal supply (e.g., goods + packing + insurance for transport) | Taxed at the rate of the PRINCIPAL supply |
| Mixed Supply | Two or more individual supplies combined for a single price, NOT naturally bundled (e.g., food + toys + crackers as a festival package) | Taxed at the HIGHEST rate among the component supplies |
Exam tip: Key test: if components are naturally bundled and one is incidental to the other → composite supply. If each component can be supplied independently but is combined artificially for a single price → mixed supply. Example: air ticket with complimentary meal = composite (transport is principal). Box of chocolates + dry fruits + a pen = mixed supply.
Chapter Summary
- 1GST: destination-based, dual model (CGST+SGST intra-state; IGST inter-state). Taxable event = "supply" not manufacture/sale.
- 2Supply (s.7): sale, transfer, barter, rental etc. for consideration + Schedule I (without consideration) + import of services.
- 3Not supply (Schedule III): employee services, actionable claims, sale of land/building (excluding under-construction).
- 4Composite supply: taxed at principal supply rate. Mixed supply: taxed at highest component rate.
Key Terms
Supply (Section 7)
The taxable event under GST — includes all forms of supply made for consideration in furtherance of business, plus Schedule I activities without consideration.
CGST
Central Goods and Services Tax — levied by the Centre on intra-state supply of goods and services.
SGST
State Goods and Services Tax — levied by the state on intra-state supply; revenue goes to the state of consumption.
IGST
Integrated GST — levied by the Centre on inter-state supply; apportioned to the destination state.
Composite Supply
Natural bundle of two or more supplies where one is the principal — taxed at the rate of the principal supply.
Mixed Supply
Artificial combination of independent supplies at a single price — taxed at the highest rate among all components.