New Delhi, Oct 7 (IANS): With the deadline for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime roll-out less than six months away, the government has decided to utilise the services of professional training institutes for imparting training to trade bodies and other stakeholders, it was announced on Friday.

"As GST is proposed to be rolled out by April 1, 2017, it is important to plan training on GST for trade and other stakeholders. Considering the scale of the task, it has been decided to involve professional training institutes of repute in this process," the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) said in a statement here.

The National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN), the apex indirect tax training institute of the government, has invited expression of interest (EOI) from professional institutes to be classified as approved training partners (ATPs) for imparting training on GST to the industry.

The institutes should have experience in fiscal and indirect tax training, CBDT said.

The last date for receipt of EOIs is October 20.

The government has said it will also be training 60,000 indirect tax officials of the Centre and states before the deadline for GST implementation.

President Pranab Mukherjee on September 8 accorded assent to the Constitution Amendment Bill on GST.