In the past, a worker making inter-state taxable supply of job work service was not eligible for threshold exemption of Rs 20 lakh and had to undergo compulsory GST registration.

But at the GST council meeting that took place in Hyderabad recently, the council recommended exemption from registration for such workers who indulged in making inter-state taxable supply of job work service for a registered company when the goods are moved through an e-way bill, no matter what the value of the goods is.

This will impact the industry in a big way as mostly artisans creating specialized jewellery are all dispersed in different parts of India. While Kundan-meena may be specialized in Jaipur, temple jewellery may be created by artisans in the south.

One policy after the other has been leaving jewellers in a very challenging position; how much this will impact the jewellery industry is something we will have to wait and see.