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.
It is for the first time that the Government has admitted that there is a problem with the economy. Earlier Governments had a tradition of appointing outstanding economists to important positions in the Finance Ministry. It is time that the present Government revived this tradition and hired some really talented people, without bothering too much about their ideological inclinations.
The Central government’s move was welcomed by Shimla Hotel and Restaurant Association (SHRA) and said the tax cuts were a historic and major boost to the economy that will benefit Indian consumers, especially tourism in the state.
Her remarks come as the auto industry suffered its worst-ever monthly sales performance in August.
SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) on Monday released data which shows that total sales of the Indian automobile sector declined by 23.55 per cent in August to 1,821,490 units from 2,382,436 units sold during the corresponding month of the previous year.
This is far removed from the promised uncomplicated, ‘one nation; one tax’ that the GST was supposed to be, with expectations of a single rate across all goods and services, ideally under 15 per cent, lowering costs for payer and administrator.
