Explore Business Standard
Gross GST collections rose 6.2 per cent to over Rs 1.93 lakh crore in January, mainly on higher revenues from imports, sources said on Sunday. Total refunds declined 3.1 per cent to Rs 22,665 crore. Net Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues, however, grew 7.6 per cent to about Rs 1.71 lakh crore in January. Cess collection (from tobacco products) in January stood at Rs 5,768 crore. This compares to Rs 13,009 crore in collections in January last year when a cess was levied on luxury, sin and demerit goods such as cars, and tobacco products. Effective September 22, 2025, GST rates on about 375 items were slashed, making goods cheaper. Also, a compensation cess is levied only on tobacco and related products, as opposed to luxury, sin and demerit goods earlier. The lowering of GST rates has impacted revenue collections. Gross tax collections from domestic transactions grew 4.8 per cent to Rs 1.41 lakh crore, while import revenues were up 10.1 per cent to Rs 52,253 crore in January.
The Federation of Associations of Cottage and Small Industries (FACSI) has urged the Centre for tax, credit and regulatory relief measures for micro and small enterprises in the 2026-27 Union Budget, to sustain growth and strengthen their role in the industrial ecosystem. In a recent pre-budget letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, FACSI president H K Guha said the recommendations were framed after consultations with various associations of entrepreneurs and MSE groups across the country. Among the key demands, the industry body has sought the constitution of an exclusive council for small and micro enterprises under the Ministry of MSME, a higher exemption threshold under the GST regime and a single, simplified GST return for small units. FACSI has also called for statutory collateral-free lending of up to Rs 1 crore for MSEs at an interest cap of 6-7 per cent, along with interest subvention during periods of financial stress, and automatic renewal of working capital limit
The state government on Saturday urged the Centre to address Karnataka's "shrinking fiscal space" in the Union Budget 2026-27, stating that the state is under mounting pressure due to GST changes, rising social commitments and rapid urbanisation. Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, on behalf of the state government, handed over a representation to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the Union Pre-Budget Meeting for 2026-27 in Delhi today. In a release issued by the Chief Minister's Office, Gowda said, "Karnataka is a major contributor to national growth, but is facing shrinking fiscal space amid GST changes, rising social commitments, climate shocks, and rapid urbanisation. States' responsibilities have expanded faster than their revenues, necessitating corrective fiscal measures in Budget 2026-27." The minister also flagged the fiscal and employment impact of replacing the demand-driven Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the ..
Eternal, the parent entity of Zomato and Blinkit, has received a goods and services tax (GST) demand order, along with interest and penalty, amounting to Rs 3,69,80,242 for the period April 2019 to March 2020. The order was passed by the Additional Commissioner of State Tax (Appeals), West Bengal. The demand order has been received with respect to short payment of output tax with interest and penalty thereon, Eternal said in a regulatory filing late on Tuesday evening. The company said it believes it has a strong case on merits, and will file an appeal against the order before the appropriate authority. In the regulatory filing, Eternal stated it "has received an order on 6 January 2026 for the period April 2019 to March 2020 passed by Additional Commissioner of State Tax (Appeals), West Bengal confirming demand of GST of Rs 1,92,43,792 with interest of Rs 1,58,12,070 and penalty of Rs 19,24,380".
Arunachal Pradesh has recorded a sharp 35.7 per cent rise in Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections in the first nine months of the 2025-26 financial year, compared to the figure in the same period in the previous fiscal, officials said on Monday. The collection exceeded the national growth average of 6.8 per cent, reflecting strong economic activity and improved tax compliance in the state, they said. The state collected Rs 1,519 crore between April and December 2025 as GST, while the collection was Rs 1,324 crore in the corresponding period of 2024, with an absolute increase of Rs 195 crore. According to the central GST Commissionerate here, the significant increase is the result of steady economic performance, better compliance by taxpayers, and effective revenue-boosting measures. Officials said the higher collections indicate expanding business activity, growing markets, and improved tax administration across major sectors such as retail, services, tourism, transport, and ..