<p>The Government of India, through this circular issued by the Ministry of Finance, provides <strong>clarifications regarding GST applicability on certain services</strong> as per the GST Council’s 25th meeting. Below are the key clarifications:</p><h4><strong>1. Hostel Accommodation by Trusts</strong></h4><ul><li>Hostel accommodation <strong>does not qualify</strong> as a charitable activity under GST.</li><li>However, hostel accommodation services (including those by Trusts) are <strong>exempt from GST if the declared tariff is below ₹1,000 per day</strong>.</li></ul><h4><strong>2. GST on Fees Paid to Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions</strong></h4><ul><li>Fees paid for filing complaints and appeals in Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions <strong>are not subject to GST</strong>.</li><li>Penalties imposed by these commissions are <strong>also exempt from GST</strong>.</li></ul><h4><strong>3. GST on Elephant, Camel, and Rickshaw Rides</strong></h4><ul><li>These rides are <strong>not classified as transportation services</strong>.</li><li>They are categorized under <strong>recreational services</strong> and attract <strong>18% GST</strong> with threshold exemptions for small service providers.</li></ul><h4><strong>4. GST on Rental of Self-Propelled Access Equipment</strong></h4><ul><li>The rental services of boom scissors, telehandlers, etc., <strong>are taxed at the same rate as the sale of such goods</strong>.</li><li>If these goods attract <strong>28% GST</strong>, the rental service will also attract <strong>28% GST</strong>.</li></ul><h4><strong>5. GST on Hospital Services</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>Consultancy charges paid to doctors/technicians (whether on contract or not) are exempt from GST</strong> as healthcare services.</li><li><strong>Retention money</strong> (where hospitals charge patients and retain a portion before paying consultants) <strong>is also exempt</strong>.</li><li><strong>Food supplied to in-patients as part of treatment is exempt from GST</strong>, but food sold separately to visitors or non-admitted patients is taxable.</li></ul><h4><strong>6. Taxability of Cost Petroleum in Oil Exploration</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>Cost petroleum</strong> is <strong>not taxable under GST</strong> as it is not a consideration for service to the Government.</li><li>However, in cases where an operating member of an oil exploration joint venture supplies services, <strong>GST may apply to the value of such services</strong>.<a href="https://cms.plasament.com/storage/nisha/circularno-32-cgst.pdf">circularno-32-cgst</a><br> </li></ul>