India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections took a notable hit in May, falling to Rs 1.94 lakh crore from a record Rs 2.42 lakh crore in April. This decline, while not entirely unexpected due to seasonal trends, raises alarms about the underlying health of domestic consumption as inflationary pressures mount globally. Year-on-year, however, collections still showed a 3.2% increase compared to May 2025, indicating some resilience in the economy.
The drop in revenue is primarily attributed to a 2.6% year-on-year decline in gross domestic GST collections, alongside a 2.3% dip in net domestic GST revenues. Despite these setbacks, the government remains optimistic about meeting its ambitious Rs 10.19 lakh crore GST revenue target for the fiscal year, buoyed by a 19.1% increase in GST from imports.
Experts suggest that while the growth in import-linked revenues is encouraging, it underscores a troubling reliance on external trade rather than a robust domestic market. The current figures indicate a cautious recovery, but without a significant uptick in domestic consumption, sustaining this momentum could prove challenging. The government’s focus must shift towards stimulating local demand to ensure long-term stability.
