ICEGATE-LPMS integration at ICP Agartala enables real-time cross-border data exchange and faster customs clearance for trade.
ICEGATE-LPMS integration at ICP Agartala creates real-time, bidirectional data exchange between ICEGATE and the Land Port Management System, automates import/export workflows, and focuses on critical customs data elements (Bill of Entry, Shipping Bill, Out of Charge, Let Export Order) plus event-based cargo tracking; it also establishes reconciliation mechanisms to preserve data integrity and reduce manual intervention while enabling shared data for coordinated border management and enhanced risk-based targeting.

GST fraud involving Rs 53.28 crore in fake invoices and fraudulent input tax credit resulted in an arrest.
Allegations concern a scheme to obtain fraudulent input tax credit by issuing and receiving fake invoices without actual supply of goods; investigators found absent e-way bills, transport records and bank statements, and physical verification showed firms non-existent or non-operational. Enforcement action by the Anti-Evasion Unit resulted in the arrest of a company director under statutory provisions addressing issuance of invoices without supply and fraudulent availment of input tax credit, with offences treated as cognisable and non-bailable and further investigations continuing to identify other involved entities and persons.

Punjab seeks a special package: extra borrowing, flood relief, police funds, GST compensation, and higher farm incentives.
Punjab seeks a one-time additional borrowing limit of 1 per cent of GSDP under FRBM for disaster and security-related rehabilitation; Rs 1,000 crore special central assistance for police modernisation and emergency response; immediate release of Rs 7,757 crore in withheld Rural Development Fund; Rs 15,000 per acre incentive for paddy diversification; a predictable GST stabilisation or compensation mechanism to address ~Rs 6,000 crore annual revenue loss; and restoration of the original demand-driven MGNREGA funding structure.

VB G RAM G funding change increases state fiscal burden; states demand restoration of demand driven scheme and compensation.
The VB G RAM G Act substitutes MGNREGA and alters financing from 90:10 to 60:40, placing greater recurring cost and responsibility for additional man days on states, which opponents say weakens the employment guarantee and transfers significant fiscal burden to states; they demand restoration of demand driven funding and compensatory measures including a non lapsable infrastructure fund or merging surcharges into the divisible tax pool, plus a GST compensation or stabilisation mechanism.

Gurugram excise officials convicted for bribery and sentenced; fines imposed and departmental action pending after sting.
Two officers and a clerk of the Haryana Excise and Taxation Department were prosecuted after an ACB sting in response to a complaint that a GST registration application was diverted and a bribe solicited; one inspector was caught accepting an advance, all were arrested and sent to judicial custody, prosecuted for bribery, sentenced to imprisonment and fined, and the department is reviewing further disciplinary action.

Air purifiers: Centre says reclassification as medical devices and judicial tax directions would improperly intrude on GST Council authority.
The central government argues the PIL to classify air purifiers as medical devices is a colourable and motivated attempt to obtain regulatory reclassification that would restrict market participation and favour certain entities. It contends judicial directions modifying GST rates or compelling the GST Council to adopt specific outcomes would intrude on the exclusive constitutional domain of the GST Council, violate the doctrine of separation of powers, and undermine cooperative federalism, and therefore opposes the requested reliefs.

Ready-to-move homes offered with GST and registration costs absorbed into sale price to reduce upfront cash needed.
The developer's No Registration & No GST scheme absorbs GST and registration charges into the sale consideration by revising the sale deed value, eliminating separate upfront GST and registration payments and thereby reducing buyers' immediate cash outlay while enabling higher mortgage coverage for ready-to-occupy apartments.

Air purifiers sought to be reclassified as medical devices and taxed at 5%; government resists judicial direction on GST policy.
The petition seeks classification of air purifiers as medical devices and reduction of GST from 18% to 5%; the Centre opposes judicial directions on GST rates, asserting that taxation and related recommendations fall exclusively within the GST Council and that judicial interference would violate the doctrine of separation of powers and undermine cooperative federalism, while characterising the plea as a colourable attempt at regulatory reclassification to confer commercial advantage.

Railway freight evasion led to provisional PMLA attachment of properties linked to alleged money laundering of illicit freight gains.
Provisional attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act of immovable properties worth Rs 2.67 crore follows allegations that companies and their promoter misdeclared high freight goods as low freight items to evade railway freight charges and GST, generating illicit gains of Rs 16.15 crore which were allegedly siphoned into personal accounts, layered, and used to acquire the attached properties; the investigation continues to identify further assets and persons involved in laundering.

GST evasion: arrests for alleged non-deposit of tax and fake input tax credit involving about Rs 50 crore.
Allegations involve organised GST evasion of about Rs 50 crore: Sunil Kumar is accused of collecting Rs 28.24 crore GST and failing to deposit it within three months of the due date, while Chethan N is alleged to have masterminded fake Input Tax Credit of about Rs 22 crore. The DGGI Hyderabad conducted intelligence-driven enforcement, using data analytics and inter-agency collaboration, and effected arrests under provisions of the CGST Act, 2017.

Hawala and GST fraud uncovered involving Rs 24 crore; two arrested for using fake firms, mule accounts, and fake invoices.
Investigators allege a combined hawala and GST-evasion scheme routed about Rs 24 crore through a fake firm, Satya Sahab Traders, and other paper companies by using misappropriated identity documents to open mule bank accounts and generate fake invoices; two suspects were arrested and a criminal case registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and related laws while further inquiry into beneficiaries and hawala links continues.

Hotel accommodation specified premises can be opted in online via Annexure VII/VIII under prescribed timelines and conditions.
The advisory creates an electronic filing process on the GST Portal for hotel accommodation suppliers to declare premises as specified premises via Annexure VII (existing registrants for a succeeding financial year) and Annexure VIII (new registration applicants within 15 days of ARN). The facility excludes composition, TDS/TCS, SEZ, casual and cancelled taxpayers but allows suspended taxpayers. Filing mechanics, a 10 premise per declaration limit, ARN/reference number generation, download facility, and continued opt in effect until an opt out (Annexure IX) are set out.

Arunachal Pradesh GST collections rose 35.7% in Apr-Dec 2025, driven by improved compliance and tax digitisation.
Arunachal Pradesh recorded a 35.7% rise in Goods and Services Tax collections in the first nine months of fiscal 2025-26, rising from Rs 1,324 crore to Rs 1,519 crore. The increase exceeded the national growth average and is attributed to stronger activity in retail, services, tourism, transport and hospitality, improved taxpayer compliance, and revenue measures including ease-of-doing-business reforms and greater digitalisation that widened the tax base.

Pan Masala manufacturers must register, declare machine parameters, pay monthly cess by machine speed, and follow abatement rules.
Every taxable person must register in FORM HSNS REG-01; temporary registration allows payment pending issuance of FORM HSNS REG-02. File FORM HSNS DEC-01 within seven days of registration and fresh declarations within 15 days of any change. Proper officers verify declarations within 90 days and may order adjustment; differential cess and interest are payable for past and subsequent periods. Monthly cess is computed by machine count and maximum rated speed per Schedule II, payable by the 7th and returned by the 20th; abatement is available for continuous shutdowns of 15+ days and requires officer-supervised sealing and procedural claims.

GST collections for December 2025: gross receipts, refunds and resulting net revenue with state settlement details.
The report presents componentised December 2025 GST receipts-CGST, SGST and IGST from domestic and import sources-shows Total Gross GST Revenue, Total Refunds (domestic and export via ICEGATE), resulting Total Net GST Revenue after refunds, net customs (IGST on imports) and net compensation cess, and provides state wise pre and post settlement SGST and SGST portion of IGST settled to States/UTs with year on year and year to date aggregates.

Corruption probe: officers arrested over Rs.70 lakh bribe amid GST evasion investigation and large cash recoveries reported.
Allegations of a demand of undue advantage of Rs. 1.5 crore in GST evasion matters led to a trap in which two Superintendents were caught accepting Rs. 70 lakh; arrests include a Deputy Commissioner, the two Superintendents, an advocate and a company owner. Searches recovered approx. Rs. 90 lakh in cash, property documents, jewellery and bullion, with total cash seized so far about Rs. 1.60 crore and the investigation ongoing.

Rupee trades near 89.92 as RBI defends 90 level; GST collections up 6.1% in December.
The rupee rose to 89.92 against the US dollar amid thin liquidity, a narrow trading range attributed to active market management by the Reserve Bank protecting the 90 level, with corporate, government and FPI demand weighing on the currency while domestic equities offered partial support. Official data showed gross GST collections rose 6.1% to about Rs 1.74 lakh crore in December, a change linked to slower domestic sales growth following sweeping tax cuts.

GST collections rose 6% to Rs1.74 lakh crore; government raises excise duty and imposes health cess on pan masala.
The government imposed an additional excise duty on cigarettes and other tobacco products and introduced a health cess on pan masala effective February 1, with the largest increases on longer premium cigarettes; gross GST collections rose 6.1% to over Rs 1.74 lakh crore in December 2025.

Assam government to transfer state GST from Zubeen Garg's film to his foundation and expedite prosecution.
The state will transfer Rs 2.90 crore of state GST from the late singer's final film to the Kalaguru Foundation, and will appoint a Special Public Prosecutor and seek a fast-track court to expedite the ongoing criminal prosecution. Trial has commenced at the District and Sessions Court following a charge sheet alleging murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust against various accused.

Rupee falls to 89.98 as foreign fund outflows and elevated dollar demand pressure the currency in early 2026.
The rupee fell to 89.98 against the US dollar on the first trading day of 2026 amid sustained foreign fund outflows and heightened dollar demand from importers; intraday trade remained in a tight range and the currency continued pressure after a roughly 5% decline in 2025, with market sentiment influenced by a firmer US dollar index and mixed support from easing crude oil prices.