Threat to democracy and constitutional norms: alleged state-created obstacles to religious celebration, intimidation, and undermining accountability.
Allegations that the ruling party is impeding free religious exercise by imposing excessive security and administrative controls at religious gatherings, using unexplained convoy stoppages and large-scale barricading as intimidation tactics deterring attendance and political participation. These claims are presented as part of a broader pattern of partisan protection for officials, evasions of accountability, and policy choices framed as distracting from economic and governance failures.

GST penalty relief - deposit principal tax under GST law by the deadline to obtain waiver of interest and penalties.
Relief from interest and penalty is available to GST-registered taxpayers for specified past financial years if they deposit the principal tax assessed under Section 73 of the GST Act on or before the deadline; failure to pay by the cutoff will result in recovery of unpaid dues under applicable rules.

Extortion using fake GST bills: suspects impersonated tax officials and used firearms to coerce truck drivers.
Two gang members were arrested for stopping commercial trucks near a state border, impersonating tax officials and extorting money by showing fake GST bills while threatening refusal with firearms; police recovered weapons, electronic devices and cash, registered offences including violation of the Arms Act, and continue investigation to apprehend fleeing accomplices and substantiate the fabricated tax documentation scheme.

Revenue mobilization drives Punjab's budget, pairing stronger tax enforcement with targeted social allocations and a loan waiver scheme.
The "Badalda Punjab" budget emphasises active revenue mobilisation-noting increased GST, excise, and stamp and registration collections under the current administration-and links past fiscal strain to inadequate earlier efforts. Key measures include a higher allocation to the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan, a loan waiver scheme for eligible PSCFC defaulters up to the cutoff date, and commitments to strengthen tax enforcement through incentive and intelligence mechanisms to reduce evasion and augment state revenues.

Tax burden across life: pervasive levies on consumption, property and pensions strain households and public service expectations.
The commentary contends individuals face pervasive taxation from birth to death - consumption taxes on children's goods, GST and duties on vehicle purchase and use, stamp duty and GST on property and construction, capital gains on sales, and taxation of pensions and health-related spending - and connects this broad tax incidence to depressed consumer demand and inadequate public services.

US tariff impact could prompt calls for tighter rupee management, stricter NBFC oversight and increased PM KISAN support.
Opposition members warned of a looming tariff impact from US measures and pressed the government to state India's response, improve rupee management, and tighten oversight of non-banking financial companies. They also criticised budget cuts, urged increased spending on health and infrastructure, called for enhancement of PM KISAN support, rationalisation of GST, steps to stem startup closures and youth unemployment, and reforms in banking and insurance to address systemic and employment challenges.

Tax incentives: full SGST reimbursement and stamp duty rebates for major investors and tourism projects, plus a local-first job portal.
The budget offers a fiscal incentive package: full SGST reimbursement for five years and a 50% waiver in stamp duty and registration for very large investors, plus five-year subsidies on amenities. For tourism and medical-hospitality projects meeting three-star or higher standards in specified hinterland talukas, the state grants a 50% state GST rebate, stamp duty and registration exemptions, processing-charge waivers, and single-window infrastructure support. A dedicated job portal will give Goan candidates seven days' exclusive access to vacancies to prioritise local employment.

Appropriation authority: J&K budget authorises consolidated fund withdrawals and aligns local GST law with central amendments.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly authorised appropriation from the Union Territory's consolidated fund for the 2025-26 fiscal year by enacting a measure that permits withdrawals up to the sums specified in the schedule to meet services and purposes listed therein, following recommendation under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The Assembly also passed a GST amendment to align the UT's GST Act with recent amendments to the Central GST Act, 2017.

GST revenue analysis convenor appointed to lead state-wise and sectoral reviews and recommend enforcement and policy measures.
A convenor-led Group of Ministers is tasked with state-wise revenue trend analysis, sector-wise review and examination of inter-state outward supply to identify sector-specific issues needing policy or enforcement responses; to assess macroeconomic, sectoral and geographical impacts on GST receipts, including challenges of agrarian and smaller states; to analyse effects of GST legislative and regulatory amendments; and to harmonise anti-evasion, audit and scrutiny tools into a unified enforcement and compliance platform while recommending measures for revenue augmentation for states with shortfalls.

GST simplification and rate reduction urged to ease burden on low income households and address tariff impacts.
Opposition urged reform of the GST regime by reducing rates and simplifying multiple slabs to alleviate a regressive burden on low income households; they also sought clarification of tariff policy amid proposed reciprocal tariffs affecting agricultural and pharmaceutical exports, and noted the narrow income tax base as a rationale for adjusting indirect taxes and fiscal responses.

GST regional disparity highlighted as food tax rates favour some cuisines, prompting calls for equitable tax policy reforms.
A parliamentary representative alleged GST rate differentiation yields a regional tax equity problem, noting Kerala staples face higher GST than some north Indian sweets and arguing this uneven treatment burdens small businesses; the claim links these disparities to broader economic strains and urges reassessment of rate classifications for equity.

Bribe solicitation led to arrest after CBI trap; searches recovered incriminating documents and inquiry remains ongoing.
The CBI registered a case, conducted a sting operation in which the Superintendent of GST was caught demanding and accepting a bribe to revoke a suspended GST registration; the accused was arrested, produced before the competent court, and searches at official, residential and native premises recovered incriminating documents while the investigation continues.

GST registration drive promotes outreach to unregistered traders, using helpdesks and volunteers to boost voluntary compliance.
The CGST Delhi East Commissionerate ran a two day GST Registration Campaign using on-site helpdesks, door to door student outreach, scripted questionnaires, pamphlets in Hindi and Urdu, and cultural messaging to assist unregistered traders with registration and to promote voluntary tax compliance, under the supervision of senior GST officers who followed up on leads and applications.

GST alignment with central law proposed; amendment bill seeks regulatory harmonisation without impact on consolidated fund.
The bill proposes amending the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax law to align local provisions with corresponding central regulatory amendments, aiming for statutory harmonisation of tax regulation while asserting no recurring or non-recurring expenditure will be charged to the consolidated fund. The measure was published in the Official Gazette and introduced in the Legislative Assembly following a recommendation under the reorganisation statute.

Waiver application deadline: file by 30.06.2025; payment due by 31.03.2025 via portal payments or DRC-03 linking.
Taxpayers encountering portal issues while filing SPL 01/SPL 02 should verify payment entries in the Electronic Liability Register and raise grievance tickets for technical problems. Waiver applications must be filed within three months from the notified date (per Rule 164(6)), allowing filing until 30.06.2025, while the payment to avail the waiver scheme must be made by 31.03.2025. Use "Payment Towards Demand" on the portal; if unavailable, make a Voluntary Payment via Form DRC-03 (category 'Others') and link it to the demand using Form DRC-03A.

Budget realism emphasised: restrained fiscal expansion to fund welfare guarantees, financed partly through open market borrowings.
The 2025-26 budget is presented as a constrained, implementable fiscal plan that modestly increases spending while prioritising welfare and development, allocating a major package for the party's six election promises and planning significant open market borrowings to finance those commitments; the finance minister also highlighted improved GST growth compared with the prior year and contrasted the current realistic budgeting approach with the previous administration's larger but allegedly unspent announcements.

Gig worker recognition urged to secure basic labour rights, transparency in algorithmic pay and grievance redressal mechanisms.
Gig workers should be legally recognised as workers with enforceable basic rights to protect against fluctuating, inadequate earnings driven by opaque algorithms and non-transparent payment structures; the government is urged to draft legislation establishing employment status, platform accountability, and accessible physical grievance redressal centres. Separately, removal of GST on life and health insurance is demanded to improve affordability and insurance penetration.

Committed liabilities dominate the budget, constraining development spending and contributing to a projected fiscal deficit.
The 2025-26 budget allocates most resources to committed liabilities-salaries, pensions, interest, debt repayment and grants-thereby limiting discretionary funds. It reports a fiscal deficit driven by the gap between total receipts and expenditures and details the composition of revenue receipts, including state taxes, central transfers and non-tax revenues.

Terrorism concerns prompt strengthened defence and security partnership and coordinated action against extremist elements and financing networks.
Concerns over pro Khalistani elements in New Zealand were raised, seeking cooperation to address alleged anti India activities that glorify or enable terrorism. The leaders committed to institutionalising a defence and security partnership-including joint exercises, training, port visits and a defence industry roadmap-and signed agreements on cooperation across multiple sectors. They launched free trade agreement negotiations, agreed to explore mobility arrangements for professionals to address irregular migration, and urged concerted action against terrorist organisations, financing networks, online infrastructure and safe havens.

Institutionalised defence partnership and counter terrorism cooperation to strengthen bilateral security, defence industry ties and maritime collaboration.
India and New Zealand agreed to institutionalise their defence and security partnership through joint exercises, training, port visits and a roadmap for cooperation in the defence industry; to strengthen maritime security including India's participation in Combined Maritime Forces; and to enhance counter terrorism cooperation by disrupting financing, dismantling terror infrastructure (including online) and bringing perpetrators to justice.