GST collection in October up 24% at Rs 1.3 trillion, second highest ever

Finance ministry expects positive trend to continue and H2 to post higher revenues; says constant rise in collection in the past five months indicates faster economy recovery

In step with the constant rise in the past five months, goods and services tax (GST) collected in October rose to Rs 1.3 trillion, which is 24 per cent higher than in the same period a year ago and 36 per cent more than the collection in the equivalent month of 2019-20, which was before the pandemic.

This is the second highest collection since the introduction of the new indirect regime in 2017, reflecting strong economic recovery in the second half of the fiscal year.

The highest collection ever was more than Rs 1.40 trillion in April this year.

The finance ministry expects