Difficult to sustain Rs 1-trillion monthly GST collection, say experts

They believe the October mop-up may have resulted from pent-up demand, and are sceptical about the post-festive season scenario

Will the uptick in goods and services tax (GST) collection, which crossed Rs 1 trillion for the first time in eight months this October, sustain?

The question is critical because the October mop-up was largely due to unlocking from September onwards.

Collection in any month is for the business done the previous month.

At Rs 1.05 trillion, the mop-up was not only 10 per cent higher than the Rs 95,379 crore a year ago but almost equal to that in February, which was before the lockdown.

The government said year-on-year growth and the 4 per cent rise in collection over the previous month showed