Not just GST, nine other Bills can also result in ease of doing business

The Constitution Amendment Bill to introduce the Goods and Service Tax (GST ) regime in the country is undoubtedly the most anticipated piece of legislation Parliament is expected to consider for passage during the winter session that begins on Thursday.

But that's not all. As PRS Legislative Research notes, there are at least 10 Bills, including the GST Bill, that are of direct interest to the corporate sector. The agenda for the current session includes 19 Bills currently pending in Parliament for consideration, and passage and introduction of 14 new Bills.

Here are the 10 Bills that are of interest to the business community:

1.    The Constitution (122nd Amendment) (GST) Bill, 2014 to introduce the Goods and Services Tax to give concurrent taxing powers to both the centre and states, and to create a Goods and Services Tax Council.

2.    The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) BilI, 2013 to regulate transactions between buyers and promoters of real estate projects and set up state level Regulatory Authorities to regulate the sector.

3.    The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2014 to segregate the distribution network from the electricity supply business and introduce multiple supply licensees.

4.    The Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Bill, 2015 to enable the creation of commercial divisions and commercial appellate divisions in high courts, and commercial courts at the district level.

5.    The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 to make the giving of a bribe an offence for individuals and commercial organisations, and enlarge the definition of taking a bribe.

6.    The Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015 to specify grounds under which public interest disclosures may not be made.

7.    The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2015 to increase the allowance for investment in plants and machinery in micro, small and medium enterprises engaged in manufacture or services.

8.    The Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015 to replace the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 and establish BIS as the national standards body and address mandatory standardisation of products.

9.    The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2015 to specify the territorial jurisdiction of courts for filing cases of cheque bouncing.

10.    The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2015 to replace an Ordinance, to make the process of arbitration simpler and ensure timely disposal of cases.

OTHER BILLS LISTED FOR PASSAGE:

• The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014
• The Mental Health Care Bill, 2013 "    The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012
• The High Court and the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2015
• The Anti-Hijacking Bill, 2014 "    The Repealing and Amending (Third) Bill, 2015
• The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2014
• The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2014
• The Appropriation Acts (Repeal) Bill, 2015 "    The Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill, 2015

AND THE BILLS LISTED FOR INTRODUCTION:

• The Agricultural Bio-Security Bill, 2015
• The Anti Maritime Piracy Bill, 2015
• The Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill, 2015
• The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2015
• The Drugs and Cosmetics (Amendment) Bill, 2015
• The High Court's (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2015
• The Indian Institute of Management Bill, 2015
• The Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015
• The National Commission for Women (NCW) Bill, 2015
• The National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2015
• The Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Bill, 2015
• The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill, 2015
• The Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2015