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.

Revenue deficit reduction alters state fiscal space and prompts budgetary emphasis on tourism, rural development and green energy.
The 2025-26 budget realigns state finances following reductions in the Revenue Deficit Grant and stopping of GST compensation, noting increased debt largely used to service prior liabilities. It implements targeted measures: MSP increases for milk and raw turmeric, a Spice Park, expansion of eco-tourism, electric bus procurement and Shimla Ropeway, MGNREGA wage rise, phased pension arrears for older pensioners, a natural farming expansion target, new social-support schemes, separate education directorates, and a Special Task Force with proposed legislation to address organised crime.

Biometric Aadhaar Authentication now required for certain GST registration applicants, with appointment-based document verification at designated centres.
Amendment to Rule 8 of the CGST Rules, 2017 enables GSTN's portal to route Form GST REG-01 applicants-by data analysis and risk parameters-to either an OTP-based Aadhaar Authentication link or an appointment booking link for Biometric-based Aadhaar Authentication and in-person document verification at a designated GST Suvidha Kendra. Applicants receiving the appointment link must book a slot within the permissible period, attend with original Aadhaar, PAN and uploaded original documents, and complete biometric authentication and document verification before ARN generation.

GST and VAT collections remain on target while other state tax streams fall short of budget projections.
State tax collections are below budgeted projections except for GST and VAT, which track near estimate; motor vehicle taxes are about 22% below budget and excise receipts about 14% below, creating an overall shortfall against the total tax revenue forecast despite strong GST/VAT performance.

GST classification dispute threatens businesses, triggering tax notices and court challenges over differential rates nationwide.
GST classification dispute concerns whether a donut chain's supplies qualify as restaurant services or bakery items for differential GST rates, prompting a tax notice and litigation in the Bombay High Court. The core legal issue is classification determining applicable GST rates, with broader commentary linking the case to calls for a simplified "GST 2.0" to address complexity, enforcement uncertainty, and compliance burdens arising from multiple tax slabs.

Goods and Services Tax amendment passed to secure continuity of state tax collection and provide taxpayer relief amid opposition walkout.
The Rajasthan Assembly enacted the GST Amendment Bill 2025 by voice vote, presented by the Deputy Chief Minister, to preserve continuity in state tax collection and to adjust revenue and taxpayer-relief measures within the state GST framework, aligning those measures with the broader 'One Nation, One Tax' GST principle.

Workplace stress linked to alleged suicide after reassignment; family disputes reports of advanced illness.
A senior GST official allegedly died by suicide; family members attribute the death to workplace pressure and refusal of an additional administrative charge, while disputing reports of advanced cancer and asserting prior treatment for an early-stage condition.

State fiscal distress undermines delivery of welfare guarantees after suspension of GST compensation and tapering of revenue deficit grants.
The governor attributed budgetary pressure to the stoppage of GST compensation and tapering of revenue deficit grants and noted partial fulfilment of poll promises despite financial constraints; the opposition countered that fiscal management failures have led to unmet welfare guarantees, pension arrears and delayed salaries, and raised the nonreceipt of central disaster compensation as an additional strain on the state budget.

Suicide of public official: GST deputy commissioner found dead; family cites illness and depression, police investigating.
GST deputy commissioner allegedly died by suicide after falling from his apartment building; family members reported he was suffering from cancer and had been in depression. Police sent the body for postmortem and are conducting standard inquiries after recording the family's statements.

GST evasion enforcement: thousands of cases detected, leading to arrests, GST number cancellations and recovery measures.
Authorities detected 17,191 instances of alleged GST non-compliance with an aggregate evasion of Rs 2,043.59 crore; 15 persons were arrested, prosecution complaints filed, and GST registrations cancelled. Recovery and enforcement measures include serving a show cause notice before adjudication, seizure of property and bank accounts, blocking input tax credits, and lodging police complaints.

Corruption: Private tax consultant arrested after allegedly accepting bribe for a GST officer; case under Prevention of Corruption Act.
A taxpayer alleged that a senior GST officer demanded payment to reduce tax liability and a private tax consultant allegedly acted as intermediary. The intermediary was arrested after accepting cash during a monitored handover witnessed by independent observers at a hotel, while the named officer left before apprehension. An investigation and actions under the Prevention of Corruption Act were initiated following verification by anti-corruption authorities.

GST reform: call for comprehensive simplification and a less punitive structure beyond mere rate reductions, urging systemic overhaul.
Calls for comprehensive GST reform stress simplification and a less punitive design rather than mere rate cuts; demands for evidence disclosure in the Bofors matter press for transparency in investigative filings; a police probe into the Kathua killings examines possible terrorist links; the Supreme Court's grant of bail to a former excise officer indicates continued judicial oversight of corruption cases; and the CPCB report to the National Green Tribunal evaluates bathing fit water quality during the Maha Kumbh, reflecting environmental regulatory review.

GST simplification: call for a radically simplified, less-punitive regime to rationalise slabs and curb ITC fraud.
A political statement urges a comprehensive GST 2.0 featuring radical simplification of tax slabs, consolidation of disparate rates, and targeted rate reductions only as part of broader reform. It highlights systemic weaknesses-proliferation of rates, rising and insufficiently validated refunds, Input Tax Credit (ITC) fraud, fake registrations, and weak supply chain tracking-that drive revenue leakage and increase compliance burdens. Recommended measures include stronger enforcement and refund scrutiny, improved validation and physical checks, targeted tax relief on selected items, and use of fiscal cushion to support the transition.