Punjab News: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that in October 2026, an increase of 28.29 percent was recorded in the cash collection of the State Goods and Services Tax (SGST). The collection increased from Rs 803.07 crore in October 2025 to Rs 1,030.29 crore. At the national level, about 14 percent growth was recorded in SGST collection during the same period.
According to Cheema, this is the second time in the year 2026 that Punjab's SGST cash collection has crossed Rs 1,000 crore. He said that for the first time in the month of October after the implementation of GST, the state has achieved this level of SGST cash collection.
Total GST collection also increased
Punjab's total GST collection in October increased by 14 percent to Rs 2,716.60 crore. In October 2025 it was Rs 2,393.22 crore. In this way the state received additional revenue of Rs 323.38 crore.
Punjab's total GST collection during April to October of the financial year 2026-27 reached Rs 18,047.68 crore, compared to Rs 15,505.66 crore in the same period of the last financial year. During this period, additional revenue of Rs 2,542.02 crore was received and 16.39 percent increase was recorded in the total collection. At the national level, the growth of total GST collection during the same period was about 15 percent.
VAT and CST collection also increased
Cheema said the combined collection of VAT and CST increased by 23.76 percent to Rs 763.49 crore in October. In October last year it was Rs 616.93 crore. This yielded additional revenue of Rs 146.56 crore.
action against tax evasion
According to the Finance Minister, the Excise and Tax Department imposed fines of Rs 111.12 crore during October in cases related to tax evasion, fake billing and violation of rules. The department also recovered tax of Rs 20 crore in a GST fraud case involving Ludhiana-based Balaji Transport Company.
He said that earlier investigation had revealed a network of about 62 interconnected firms, in which potential tax evasion of more than Rs 400 crore was suspected. After further investigation, the suspicious role of four other transporters associated with the same network came to light, a case has been registered against them.
Cheema said the government will continue to take strict action against fake billing, fraudulent ITC claims and organized tax evasion. He said increasing tax collection will strengthen the financial capacity of the state to spend on public welfare schemes, infrastructure, health and education.