Lucknow Printers Association Honour Prof. Kamal Chopra at Lucknow
15 May 2023: Just to welcome and felicitate Prof. Kamal Mohan Chopra, LPA hosted the luncheon meeting at Hotel Sky Hilton on 9 May 2023. The purpose of this informal get-to-gather was to discuss the latest changes in the GST and CDP programme of the ministry of MSME.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Kamal Mohan Chopra said that in these days of decreasing demands of commercial printing, networking is the only alternative. If you all join hands and start working in close cooperation with each other, you can achieve any goal. At the same time, the production cost will be reduced and your products and services will become more competitive. He said that Government of India, Ministry of MSME is also promoting it through their project, Cluster Development Programme (CDP). As per latest guidelines issued by the ministry, the Gol grant will be restricted to 70% of cost of project from Rs.5.00 crore to Rs.10.00 crore and 60% of the cost of project from Rs.10.00 crore to Rs.30.00 crore. The contribution of state government will be 20% and the remaining 10 or 20% are to be contributed by SPV. Project for CFC with project cost more than Rs. 30.00 crore can also be considered but Gol assistance would be calculated by considering the maximum eligible project cost of Rs.30.00 crore.
Earlier welcoming Prof. Kamal Mohan Chopra, Harun Nomani said, it is our privilege that Prof Chopra is here for a short visit, he is travelling to Allahabad but due to his love for Lucknow printers he has specialty taken a short break. Jawahar Lal Bhargava, President of LPA said, it is a big day for us that the President of World Print & Communication Forum (WPCF) is here, I have no words to thank the kindness of Prof. Chopra for breaking his journey so that the printers of Lucknow can gain some knowledge and solve their challenges. It is seen that printers are still confused and are not charging uniform GST. I would like to request him to guide the printers on this subject also.
Prof. Chopra said, Printing is described under Manufacturing Services and technically now all items of Printing are at 18% some items (Books & Booklets: including Braille Books, Workbooks, Text Books, Technical Publications, Dictionaries, Encyclopaedias, Directories, Prayer & Hymn Books, Children’s Books, Informative: Brochures, Leaflets, Pamphlets (excludes devoted to publicity) & Annual Reports, Newspapers, Journals & Periodicals (whether or not illustrated or containing advertising material), Children’s Picture, Drawing or Colouring Books, Music, printed or in manuscript, whether or not bound or illustrated, Maps and Atlases etc.) are at 5% but that too if paper is supplied by client. Giving the important clarification, he said, in case paper is not supplied by client, GST rates will be 18% for all/any of these items. He said, in accordance with the decisions taken by GST Council in 22nd meeting held on 6th October 2017, as per item no. 12, the clarification about classification of printing products/Services are to be issued. That mean broadly printing services will fall in three categories i.e. i) If both Contents and physical inputs (paper) belong to other = Supply of services 9988, ii) If only Contents are supplied by publisher/other and physical inputs including Paper used for printing belong to the Printer = Supply of services 9989 and iii) If both Contents and physical inputs (paper) used for printing belong to the Printer = Supply of Goods under Chapter 48 or 49 and the rates of GST for different items will be chargeable as described in these chapters.
Prof. Chopra further enlighten the printers that with effect from 1st August 2023 the limit for e-invoicing is reduced to 5 crore from 10 crore. Mean the printers with turnover of 5 crore and more will have to adopt e-invoicing from August 1. Jawahar Lal Bhargava thanked Prof. Chopra for his meaningful words and guidance to Lucknow Printers Association Members and presented him token of love memento.
