According to official figures issued on Friday, India's gross GST receipts for April hit a record high of Rs 2.42 lakh crore, up 8.7% from the same month last fiscal year. Despite ongoing global uncertainty, the data shows no immediate damage to corporate activity, suggesting underlying economic momentum at the beginning of the new fiscal year.
The April 2025 collections, which totalled Rs 2.37 lakh crore, were the previous high.As a result of firms' year-end book reconciliations in March, collections are usually high in April.
In April 2026, net GST collections were Rs 2.11 lakh crore, up 7.3% from the previous year.Strong import-linked income helped to sustain the increase. While overall domestic revenue increased by a more moderate 4.3% to Rs 1.85 lakh crore, gross import revenue increased by 25.8% to Rs 57,580 crore.
According to official data issued on Wednesday, India's net Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection increased by 7.3% year over year to Rs 2.11 lakh crore in April 2026.
External commerce continued to be a major source of collections throughout the month, as seen by the 42.9% increase in net revenue from customs (GST on imports), which far outpaced the 0.3% growth in net domestic income.

Large states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat continued to underpin collections with consistent growth, while state-wise patterns in April revealed a mixed but improving picture after settlement. Kerala and Telangana saw significant increases, while Uttar Pradesh and Haryana also saw healthy growth. Pre-settlement earnings did, however, fall in a few states, including Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, and Jharkhand, indicating uneven pace across areas.

"The strong increase in GST collections highlights the fundamental resilience of the Indian consumption story," stated Saurabh Agarwal, Tax Partner, EY India. Although the headline figures are positive, a strategic shift is necessary due to the discrepancy between the small growth in domestic GST and the notable increase in import-linked collections. To further encourage domestic manufacturing and make sure "Make in India" maintains up with changes in the global supply chain, we must critically reevaluate our policy frameworks in an increasingly dynamic global environment.

According to him, the government's proactive handling of domestic refunds is a positive indication of its dedication to liquidity, guaranteeing that rate rationalisation and the ensuing inverted duty structures do not impede industry activity. Furthermore, he said, "it is especially encouraging to see double-digit growth in areas like Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, and Lakshadweep; it reflects a more comprehensive and inclusive economic expansion across the country's geography."But a word of warning for the upcoming quarter: The year-end drive for goals by administration and industry is reflected in April's record numbers. We should expect a stabilisation in the upcoming months as we move into the new fiscal year, with collections probably experiencing a sequential decline in both absolute and percentage terms as the market recalibrates," Agarwal stated.