Delhi to clear Rs 1,600 cr GST refunds before Diwali: CM

Nearly Rs 1,600 crore in pending GST refunds will be released to Delhi’s traders before Diwali, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Sunday. The refunds, pending since 2019, will be fast-tracked through a new IT module developed by the Delhi GST Department in collaboration with IIT-Hyderabad.

The system, based on data analytics, automation, and expedited verification, is expected to make the refund process faster and more transparent, providing timely relief to traders, the official document noted.

Advertisement

Gupta accused the previous government of failing to act on the issue and said she had directed officials to ensure the entire amount is disbursed before Diwali.

She convened a special meeting of the Department of Trade and Taxes at her camp office, which was attended by GST Commissioner Nandini Paliwal, Finance Secretary Shurveer Singh, and other senior officials. A key decision in the interest of the trading community was taken during the meeting, according to officials.

She directed officials to process all pending, undisputed refund applications strictly in line with rules and complete the task on priority. She said timely refunds would improve liquidity for traders, cut litigation costs, and help accelerate Delhi’s economic growth.

Gupta added that strengthening the ease of doing business is a key priority for her government. As part of this effort, a Traders’ Welfare Board has been set up with representation from the trading community to ensure their concerns are addressed.