Wholesale price inflation surges as crude oil and fuel costs climb, prompting excise duty relief on petrol and diesel.
Wholesale price inflation rose for the fifth straight month in March, driven mainly by sharp increases in fuel and power, crude petroleum and natural gas, manufactured products, basic metals and other manufacturing items. Food articles showed a slower pace of increase, and vegetable inflation softened. The rise was linked to higher global crude oil prices amid the West Asia crisis, prompting a reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel to prevent pass-through of higher crude costs to consumers.

GST appeal pre-deposit field made editable to address payment mismatches in Form APL-01 filings.
While filing an appeal in Form APL-01 on the GST portal, the pre-deposit percentage was earlier auto-populated at 10% under Section 107(6) of the CGST Act, 2017 and was not editable, creating difficulty where the pre-deposit had already been paid through other means or the demand amount was incorrectly reflected under the relevant head. GSTN has made the pre-deposit field editable from April 6, 2026, so that taxpayers may modify the pre-deposit percentage according to the facts of their case and calculate and pay the required amount while submitting the appeal.

Trade logistics coordination addresses packaging shortages, shipping constraints and supply chain stress amid West Asia disruptions.
Coordination between the Department of Commerce and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways addressed trade disruptions arising from the West Asia situation, with stakeholder consultations focused on packaging, logistics and shipping constraints affecting exports. The discussions identified pressure on petrochemical inputs such as polymers and resins, rising packaging costs, supply chain stress and liquidity concerns for sectors including MSMEs, apparel, leather, telecom/optical fibre and medical devices. The Government emphasised uninterrupted availability of critical raw materials, time-bound assessment of packaging inputs, mapping of domestic capacity and import dependence, and weekly monitoring of export-import trends and sectoral stress indicators.

Bribery in tax compliance notices led to arrests of a GST official and his aide in Navi Mumbai.
A Goods and Services Tax official and his aide were arrested by the Navi Mumbai Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly accepting a bribe in connection with show-cause notices relating to Profession Tax Enrollment Certificate and Profession Tax Registration Certificate. The complaint alleged a demand to settle the notices, and the accused were caught while receiving part of the demanded amount.

Fiscal prudence and capital expenditure strengthen India's room to support affected sectors and preserve macroeconomic stability.
Fiscal prudence has created room for the government to sustain capital expenditure, support sectors affected by the West Asia crisis, and permit further monetary easing if required. India's public finance framework is described as having shifted over the past decade from consumption-led deficits to productive investment-led consolidation, strengthening macroeconomic stability through efficient and transparent spending, comparatively low debt, strong foreign exchange reserves, and recent credit rating upgrades.

GST fraud racket exposed through fake firms, false invoices, and e-way bill manipulation linked to tax evasion.
Police in Meerut district unearthed a GST fraud racket involving fictitious firms, fake invoices, and wrongful accumulation of input tax credit. The gang allegedly used fake Aadhaar and PAN cards to set up companies, filed fraudulent GST returns, and manipulated e-way bills to evade tax and cause a revenue loss of about Rs 17 crore. One accused was arrested on the basis of a tip-off and technical evidence, and the investigation disclosed collusion with an accomplice and other persons involved in the racket.

Bribery allegations against a CGST officer trigger a CBI trap, arrest, and continuing investigation into corruption claims.
Bribery allegations led to a CBI trap and arrest of an Assistant Commissioner, CGST, Ratlam, after a private person or middleman allegedly demanded money for not initiating GST proceedings against the complainant's firm. The accused was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe through the middleman, with searches continuing at the accused's premises and investigation still in progress.

GST appeal filing blocked by NIL demand entries despite unpaid dispute over liability and prior voluntary payment.
Taxpayers may face portal restrictions when an adjudication order reflects a NIL demand because payment was made at the show cause notice stage without admitting liability. Although such payment does not amount to acceptance of the demand, the GST portal may block filing of appeal application APL-01 when no liability is captured in the Demand and Collection Register. The taxpayer may seek rectification of the order so that the correct demand amount is reflected and the appeal can then be filed within the prescribed time.

GST revenue growth and tax administration reforms lifted Haryana's SGST collections and expanded the taxpayer base.
Haryana recorded 22 per cent growth in gross State GST revenue in FY26, with post-settlement SGST collections rising to Rs 48,289 crore and its national rank improving from ninth to sixth. The number of registered GST taxpayers increased to 6,30,818, while the growth was linked to GST rate rationalisation reforms and improved tax administration.

GST revenue growth in Bihar remained strong despite rate rationalisation, election slowdown, and IGST settlement deductions.
Bihar's commercial taxes department reported total revenue collections of Rs 43,324 crore for the 2025-26 financial year, with GST collections of Rs 32,801 crore and net GST receipt of Rs 32,077 crore after IGST settlement deduction. The department said the 9.2 per cent GST growth remained significant despite GST rate rationalisation and an election-related slowdown. The state ranked fourth among large states in total GST collection, while petrol collections declined and the Registration Department exceeded its revenue target.

Customs duty exemption on critical petrochemicals aims to steady supply chains and ease input costs across manufacturing sectors.
Temporary customs duty exemption granted on critical petrochemical products to address supply disruptions arising from the West Asia conflict and consequent global shipping and supply chain disturbances. The measure is directed at preserving the availability of essential petrochemical inputs for domestic industry, maintaining supply stability, and easing cost pressures on sectors dependent on petrochemical feedstock and intermediates, including plastics, packaging, textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and automotive components. The exemption applies to specified petrochemical goods, including methanol, anhydrous ammonia, toluene, styrene, dichloromethane, vinyl chloride monomer, poly butadiene, styrene butadiene and unsaturated polyester resins.

GST revenue collections and refund adjustments for March 2026 show provisional gross, net and cess figures across domestic and import streams.
Gross and net GST revenue collections for March 2026 are reported on a provisional basis, with separate disclosure of domestic and import collections, refunds, net revenue and compensation cess. The statement presents gross GST revenue by CGST, SGST and IGST, shows domestic refunds and export-linked GST refunds through ICEGATE, and derives net domestic revenue, net customs revenue and total net GST revenue after refund adjustments. It also notes that compensation cess is a transitory arrangement until the loan and interest liability is discharged, and that the figures may vary on finalisation.

Customs duty exemption on critical petrochemical imports aims to stabilise supply chains and ease cost pressures.
Full customs duty exemption has been granted on specified critical petrochemical imports as a temporary and targeted measure to protect supply stability amid disruptions in global supply chains caused by the West Asia crisis. The exemption is intended to ensure continued availability of essential petrochemical inputs for domestic industry, reduce cost pressures on downstream sectors, and provide relief to consumers of final products. The exemption remains valid until June 30 and covers Methanol, Anhydrous ammonia, Toluene, Styrene, Dichloromethane, Vinyl chloride monomer, Poly butadiene, Styrene butadiene and Unsaturated polyester resins.

GST fraud through fake firms and fake invoices exposed alleged illegal input tax credit claims and circular trading.
GST fraud involving fake firms, shell companies, fake invoices and circular trading was detected during a police investigation. The alleged racket used fake Aadhaar and PAN details to unlawfully avail input tax credit and underreported sales in GST returns, causing an estimated loss of around Rs 3 crore to the government exchequer, with the total involvement suspected to be higher. One accused was arrested, while efforts continued to trace other persons involved.

GST revenues rise on stronger imports and domestic sales, marking one of the highest monthly collections this fiscal.
GST revenues rose about 9 per cent in March to over two lakh crore rupees, reaching the third highest monthly collection in the 2025-26 fiscal. The increase was supported by higher receipts from imports as well as domestic sales and purchases, reflecting a recovery in tax mop-ups after earlier tax cuts.

State GST collection growth in Haryana leads the country, driven by stronger compliance, economic activity and taxpayer base expansion.
State GST collection growth in Haryana was reported as the highest among all states in FY26, with post-settlement SGST collection rising to Rs 48,289 crore from Rs 39,743 crore in FY25. The increase of 21.5 per cent exceeded the national average SGST growth of 5.7 per cent. Total GST collection in the State also grew by 8.6 per cent, placing Haryana fifth among states and Union Territories in gross domestic GST collection.

Tax devolution dispute intensifies as Karnataka alleges unfair GST returns, denied compensation, and shrinking fiscal share.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah alleged that the Union Government's tax devolution and fiscal policy towards Karnataka amounted to tax terrorism or tax plunder, saying the state receives only a small share in return for its tax contribution. He said Karnataka has repeatedly raised concerns about unfair distribution of taxes, cess, surcharge revenues, GST compensation, and central funding, and claimed these issues have weakened the state's finances and increased dependence on borrowing. He also described GST implementation as flawed and unscientific, leading to significant financial losses.

Parliamentary debate on West Asia crisis and legislative agenda turns into clash over discussion, time allocation, and excise duty resolution.
Parliamentary proceedings saw a dispute over a demand for discussion on the West Asia crisis, with the opposition objecting to the absence of the Prime Minister from an all-party meeting and the government replying that the issue had already been addressed in Parliament. The government also sought extended sittings to clear its agenda, which included the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill 2026, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and a statutory resolution on Special Additional Excise Duty on Aviation Turbine Fuel.

GST collections rise on strong domestic demand, higher import revenues, and recovering momentum after rate rationalisation.
GST collections increased in the reported month, with gross receipts rising on the strength of both domestic supplies and import-related revenues. After adjustment for refunds, net GST revenues also recorded year-on-year growth, indicating continued buoyancy in tax mobilisation. The trend was linked to a recent GST rate rationalisation, including lower rates on many goods and a simplified slab structure, with collections initially dipping after the tax cut before recovering in later months.

GST collections rise on stronger domestic and import revenues, with net receipts also showing steady year-on-year growth.
Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rose by 8.8 per cent in March 2026 to over Rs 2 lakh crore, supported by higher tax realisations from domestic sales and imports. Refund issuance increased by 13.8 per cent to Rs 22,074 crore, and net GST revenues stood at about Rs 1.78 lakh crore after adjustment for refunds. For the full 2025-26 fiscal year, gross GST revenue rose 8.3 per cent to over Rs 22.27 lakh crore, while net revenues increased 7.1 per cent to Rs 19.34 lakh crore.