• Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection in November grew 25 per cent to Rs 1.31 lakh crore. 

• The GST revenues for November 2021 have been the second highest ever since introduction of GST, second only to that in April 2021.

• In October 2021, the revenues were at Rs 1,30,127 crore, while in April 2021 it was the highest at Rs 1,39,708 crore.

• The revenues for the month of November 2021, are 25 per cent higher than close to Rs 1.05 lakh crore Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue in November 2020, and 27 per cent higher over November 2019 revenues.

• This is the fifth month in a row that the revenues from goods sold and services rendered was over Rs 1 lakh crore.

• The gross GST revenue collected in the month of November 2021 is Rs 1,31,526 crore of which CGST is Rs 23,978 crore, SGST is Rs 31,127 crore, IGST is Rs 66,815 crore (including Rs 32,165 crore collected on import of goods) and cess is Rs 9,606 crore (including Rs 653 crore collected on import of goods).

• CGST refers to Central Goods and Services Tax, SGST (State Goods and Services Tax) and IGST (Integrated Goods and Services Tax).

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

• The introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime in the country was a very significant step in the field of indirect tax reforms in India. By amalgamating a large number of central and state taxes into a single tax, the aim was to mitigate cascading or double taxation in a major way and pave the way for a common national market.

• Before implementation of the GST regime in the country, the issue was deliberated in detail by the empowered committee of state finance ministers, select committee of Rajya Sabha and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance.

• After detailed and prolonged deliberation, the Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, after ratification by 50 per cent of the States, was assented to by the President on September 8, 2016. Thereafter, Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) Act, Union Territory Goods and Services Tax (UTGST) Act, and Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act were enacted in order to achieve a successful rollout of the GST regime in the country from July 1, 2017.

• With GST, India took a quantum leap towards the goal of establishing ‘one nation, one market’ by dismantling multiple taxes and unifying them into a single tax.

GST Council

• Goods and Services Tax Council is a constitutional body for making recommendations to the Union and state government on issues related to GST. The GST Council is chaired by the Union Finance Minister.

• As per Article 279A of the amended Constitution, the GST Council, which will be a joint forum of the Centre and the states, shall consist of the following members:

a) The Union finance minister (chairperson).

b) The Union minister of state in charge of revenue or finance.

c) The minister in charge of finance or taxation or any other minister nominated by each state government.

• As per Article 279A(4), the Council will make recommendations to the Union and the states on important issues related to GST, like the goods and services that may be subjected or exempted from GST, model GST Laws, principles that govern Place of Supply, threshold limits, GST rates including the floor rates with bands, special rates for raising additional resources during natural calamities/disasters, special provisions for certain states, etc.

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