The adage “old is gold” is not necessarily true, and has exceptions. The same applies to the pre-GST indirect tax landscape of India. The long-queues of trucks at state-borders (with entry upon cascading and exorbitant entry taxes), the rampant tax evasion on inter-state characterisation of local sales, etc, and the incoherent and localised VAT policy, with cascading effect, rate-wars between states, etc, many ills marked the past. Hence, GST is a shining example of the present being better than the past. Having said that, the foundations of a bright future do not rise on a stand-still present. In fact, more work is required, over the hard work already done. Unfortunately, time is not on the side of the policymakers. The expected buoyancy of GST collections is yet to be achieved, many distortionary taxes (like stamp duties and those on petroleum, electricity, stamp duties) continue. The clock is ticking, and it is now less than a year before the true contours of cooperative federalism, the idea on which GST is based, begin to get perceived. Some policy issues are identified here as requiring urgent action.