<h1>GST growth: Punjab outpaced national rate as compliance measures boosted state GST and excise collections.</h1> State net GST collections increased 11.87% year on year up to January, with January itself up 9.73%, placing the state among the top three general category states exceeding national GST growth. Excise collections rose 15.33% year on year up to January. The finance minister credited the excise and taxation department's measures-closing loopholes and stepping up checks on tax evasion-for the improved revenue mobilisation.