The Goods and Services Tax will be launched from the Central Hall of Parliament on the midnight of June 30.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive at Central Hall at the 23:00 hours on Friday June 30, as per the detailed programme drawn up by Revenue Secretary Hashmukh Adhiya in consultation with the Prime Minister's Office.

The guest of honour is President Pranab Mukherjee.

Two films of 20 minutes each will be screened, details of which are awaited.

That will be followed by at least 11 speeches. There will be a welcome address by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, former Prime Ministers Deve Gowda and Dr Manmohan Singh will also address the meeting, followed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Then comes the turn of five Chief Ministers, three from the BJP; TDP's Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and CPI-M's Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak followed by Pranab Mukherjee's speech at 00:00 hours on July 1, 2017.

This emulates Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's 'tryst with destiny' address from the Central Hall on August 15, 1947.

Central Hall is getting spruced up for the GST announcement. A huge TV screen is being put up, the visitors' gallery on the first floor of Central Hall is also being readied.

The PMO feels there will be 1500 persons in attendance on the historic day and security arrangements are being worked out. The Indian Railways is being asked to provide snacks for 1500 participants before the event.

At the stroke of midnight, GST will be born. Pranab Mukherjee who has  wished for GST to be signed during his tenure, and the fact that it is being launched with such pomp and ceremony is a hat tip to his wishes.