GST rate rationalisation: government signals further reductions pending final review and GST Council decision soon.
The government is finalising a programme to rationalise and reduce GST rates, noting a fall in the Revenue Neutral Rate since implementation; a Group of Ministers has drafted proposals, which the Finance Minister will re review before taking to the GST Council for a final decision, with remaining technical work on slab and rate adjustments to be addressed at the next Council meeting.

Financial inclusion central to award recognition and expansion plans emphasizing credit and tax compliance governance.
Kiteskraft recognized Ms. Daisy Aadhav Arjuna for advancing financial inclusion via Arise Investments through diversified microfinance products, branch and digital expansion, borrower mentorship, and targeted MSME and women-focused lending, combined with corporate compliance markers including GST taxpayer recognition and an award for credit risk compliance that indicate adherence to tax and credit governance standards.

New vehicle levies impose road and token tax plus green cess on out-of-region registrations, bolstering local dealer parity.
The Budget introduces a vehicle levy on non-transport vehicles purchased outside the region but registered locally, comprising a road and token tax plus a green cess, alongside fuel tax adjustments to promote cleaner energy. It strengthens GST tracking for capital works, risk-based e-way bill verifications, and digital metering and billing to improve revenue realisation, while pursuing debt optimisation and enhanced fiscal transparency through public disclosure of developmental expenditures and central grant assistance.

GST revenue analysis to recommend sector-specific policy interventions and harmonise enforcement tools into a unified compliance platform.
The reconstituted GoM will conduct state-wise and sector-wise analysis of GST collections, review inter-state outward supply revenues, and assess impacts of macroeconomic factors and legislative amendments. It is charged to harmonise anti-evasion, audit and scrutiny tools across agencies to evaluate a unified enforcement and compliance platform, and to recommend policy or enforcement measures for revenue augmentation and course correction for states with revenue shortfalls.

Standardise accounting practices to improve fiscal transparency and enable consolidated public financial management across governments.
The consultation urged strengthening fiscal transparency and revenue mobilisation by addressing declines in State Own Tax Revenue buoyancy, regular reporting of Off-Budget Borrowings and post-audit liabilities, and exploiting untapped sources like stamp duty, registration fees and state excise through updated market value guidelines, improved property classification and technology adoption to minimise leakages.

GST collection increase drives state revenue growth, surpassing national average and nearing budget targets this fiscal year.
Gross GST receipts in Haryana rose 20% in February 2025 to Rs 9,925 crore, exceeding the national monthly growth rate; the Excise and Taxation Department reported collections of Rs 57,125 crore for April 2024-February 2025, representing over 90% of the annual budget target of Rs 63,348 crore and constituting more than 80% of state revenue under SGST, Excise Duty and VAT.

Biometric authentication flexibility allows eligible promoters and directors to complete verification at any GSK in their home state.
GSTN allows eligible Promoters/Directors of Public Limited, Private Limited, Unlimited, and Foreign Companies, when selected for biometric verification, to choose any GST Suvidha Kendra within their declared Home State to complete Biometric Authentication. Eligible individuals receive an intimation email to select a Home State GSK, receive a confirmation and slot booking link, and must make a one time irrevocable selection; those who have already completed biometrics are exempt. The option is not available where the Promoter/Director is also the Primary Authorized Signatory, who must attend the jurisdictional GSK.

People centric development model using guarantee schemes and cash transfers to reduce inequality while supporting fiscal stability.
The state has advanced a people centric development model using guarantee schemes and direct cash transfers to reduce inequality and extend social protection, paired with sectoral priorities including green energy, women's empowerment, healthcare, education, sanitation and sustainable agriculture; these measures are asserted to align with constitutional mandates to reduce inequality and to coexist with prudent fiscal management and revenue growth.

GST revenue for February 2025: provisional gross and net collections up, refunds increased and state settlements detailed.
Provisional February 2025 GST collections show gross receipts (domestic and imports) and disaggregated CGST, SGST, IGST and CESS with ~9-10% year on year gross growth; refunds (domestic and export/import) have risen, lowering net receipts. Net GST revenue by component and in aggregate is positive year on year. State/UT tables report monthly growth, pre/post settlement SGST including IGST shares, collections by central and state formations, and registered taxpayer counts. Figures are provisional.

Excise duty removal makes retail foreign liquor cheaper and aims to reduce cross border smuggling and stabilize markets.
The state amended its excise policy to eliminate the additional excise duty on retail foreign liquor while retaining wholesale procurement and distribution by the State Beverages Corporation, preserving infrastructure development fees and existing country liquor rates, and maintaining the current liquor shop network and premium shop operations.

Misclassification of imports alleged: court directs vigilance body and customs board to respond and file comprehensive affidavit.
The petition alleges misclassification of betel nuts allowed importers to pay a lower basic customs duty and bypass Minimum Import Price rules, causing large-scale duty evasion and revenue loss; petitioner accuses senior customs officers of collusion and corruption and seeks action. The High Court has sought a response from the Central Vigilance Commission and directed the customs administration to file a comprehensive affidavit on whether further clarification or action is required, leaving maintainability open for the next hearing.

GST collections rise indicating stronger domestic consumption and higher net receipts after increased refund disbursements.
Gross GST collections for February 2025 rose year on year, with domestic transaction GST growing faster than import GST and refunds elevated, producing higher net collections. Experts link the increase to stronger domestic consumption, policy support for local industry, and expanded refund disbursements that alleviate working capital constraints. Notable inter state variation in growth rates was observed, and cumulative year to date GST figures indicate sustained fiscal year expansion tied to updated deficit estimates.

GST collections rise as domestic and import revenues increase, with higher refunds and stronger net receipts reported.
Gross GST collections increased in February, driven by higher domestic and import receipts and recorded across Central GST, State GST, Integrated GST and compensation cess. Refund disbursements rose year-on-year, and net GST collections-after refunds-also showed year-on-year growth, with the report comparing gross and net figures and indicating the effect of refunds on net realizations.

Reduction in states' tax share threatens federal structure; calls for cess inclusion and restoration of constitutionally fair devolution.
The document contends that a proposed reduction in a state's share of central taxes constitutes an attack on the federal structure, emphasising that Finance Commission allocations, unreleased special grants, and the exclusion of cesses and surcharges from the divisible pool have materially reduced state revenues. It outlines fiscal impacts-cuts to grants for local bodies, Panchayats, health and disaster funds-and proposes remedies including abolition or inclusion of cesses in the tax pool, authorisation for additional State GST, and constitutional amendment to raise tax-sharing limits and include non-tax revenues in the divisible pool.

Power of arrest affirmed for tax enforcement, subject to statutory safeguards and conditional anticipatory bail protections.
The constitutional validity of the statutory power of arrest under the amended Customs Act and the GST Act is affirmed, subject to prescribed pre-conditions and safeguards; authorised customs officers may investigate and arrest for specified cognisable offences, arrestees must be informed of grounds and have limited access to counsel, and courts may grant conditional anticipatory bail before formal complaint where facts warrant protection of life and liberty.

Anticipatory bail applies under GST and Customs law, allowing pre-arrest relief even without an FIR.
Anticipatory bail is available to persons facing potential arrest under the Goods and Services Tax and Customs legislation; the procedural regime for pre-arrest protection in the CrPC and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita applies to GST and Customs offences, permitting courts to entertain anticipatory bail applications even before an FIR is registered.

Money laundering investigation results in arrest of journalist amid allegations of fraudulent transactions and GST input tax misuse.
A federal probe into alleged fraudulent financial conduct led to the arrest and remand of a Gujarat-based journalist under money laundering provisions; the investigation alleges multiple fraudulent transactions, extortion, manipulation of records and use of media influence, and links the conduct to alleged GST input tax credit misuse, with proceedings conducted through production before a special court and remand to agency custody.

Repeal of Professional Civil Engineers Act announced as construction regulation consolidated under comprehensive development control and safety reporting rules.
The legislature passed two measures: a GST amendment converting an ordinance into state law to align Gujarat's GST Act with Central amendments, and a repeal of the Gujarat Professional Civil Engineers Act on the basis that the Comprehensive General Development Control Regulation 2017 provides a more comprehensive, uniform construction regulatory regime-including high-rise oversight and mandatory structural safety reports after third-party inspections-thereby rendering the registration regime redundant.

Privatisation of public services alleged to reduce access to education and healthcare and exacerbate inequality, affecting employment prospects.
Allegations focus on privatisation of education and healthcare reducing affordability and the employment value of degrees; demonetisation and GST reforms are criticised for harming small businesses and constraining bank access, thereby limiting job creation; tax structure and wealth concentration are said to increase inequality; and removal or dilution of reservation quotas is claimed to restrict opportunities for marginalised communities.

Consumption tax vulnerability: reciprocal tariff threats could undermine GST neutrality and tax-policy sovereignty.
Talks of reciprocal tariffs by the United States challenge the structure and international treatment of GST as a consumption tax, which by design applies to imports and exempts exports; such tariff measures could undermine GST's neutral treatment of trade and tax-policy coherence. The Congress urges a sovereign response and pushes for a GST 2.0 emphasising rate minimisation and simplified compliance to protect tax design and regulatory autonomy.