Section 11 : Power to grant exemption from tax – Levy Of, And Exemption From, Tax

11. Power to grant exemption from tax

(1) If the Central or a State Government is satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, it may, on the recommendation of the Council, by notification, exempt generally either absolutely or subject to such conditions as may be specified in the notification, goods and/or services of any specified description from the whole or any part of the tax leviable thereon with effect from the date of issue of notification or any date subsequent thereto as may be specified in the said notification.

Explanation.- Where an exemption in respect of any goods and/or services from the whole of the tax leviable thereon has been granted absolutely, the taxable person providing such goods and/or services shall not pay the tax on such goods and/or services.

(2) If the Central or a State Government is satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, it may, on the recommendation of the Council, by special order in each case, exempt from payment of tax, under circumstances of an exceptional nature to be stated in such order, any goods and/or services on which tax is leviable.

(3) The Central or a State Government may, if it considers necessary or expedient so to do for the purpose of clarifying the scope or applicability of any notification issued under sub-section (1) or order issued under sub-section (2), insert an explanation in such notification or order, as the case may be, by notification at any time within one year of issue of the notification under sub-section (1) or order under sub-section (2), and every such explanation shall have effect as if it had always been the part of the first such notification or order, as the case may be.

(4) Every notification issued under sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) and every order issued under sub-section (2) shall

(a) unless otherwise provided, come into force on the date of its issue by the Central or a State Government for publication in the Official Gazette or from any date subsequent to the date of its issue as may be specified therein; and

(b) be made available on the official website of the department of the Central or a State Government.