Reaffirming Punjab’s strong fiscal performance, Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced on Monday that the state recorded a robust 14.59 per cent growth in Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections during May 2026.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the retrospective levy of 28 per cent GST on online gaming bets, holding that the tax was constitutionally valid and did not violate the constitutional framework governing Goods and Services Tax.
The gross GST collection spiked by 8.7 per cent in April to a record of about Rs 2.43 trillion, government data showed.
The report also identifies key structural challenges constraining India's global competitiveness — fragmented state-led branding, limited global marketing outreach, lack of experience-led packaging, and ease-of-travel barriers including connectivity and visa processes.
The Delhi government moves to reset GST operations with large-scale transfers after inspection highlights discipline issues, long postings and complaints from taxpayers over delays and inefficiencies.
A high-level Parliamentary panel has suggested to the government to look into the possibility of developing a mechanism for online audit in GST, in order to make the process more efficient and less intrusive.
The budget was completely silent on any tax revisions on bidis or smokeless tobacco, which are consumed by most Indian tobacco users. It is pertinent to mention here that cigarettes account for only 15 per cent of tobacco users in India. There are reports which establish that cigarette smokers switch to bidis when cigarettes become exorbitant; this is equally detrimental to health. For public health professionals this negligible tax increase on cigarettes in the Union Budget and leaving taxes on other tobacco products unaffected was a major disappointment
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday chaired the 49th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The government has settled Rs 33,997 crore to CGST and Rs 28,538 crore to SGST from IGST as regular settlement.
The total amount of compensation released to the States/UTs so far, including the aforesaid amount, during the year 2022-23 is Rs.1,15,662 crores.
