GST collection rises marginally to Rs 1.70 lakh crore in November—Key takeaways

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue for November recorded a modest uptick, with the Centre reporting a gross collection of Rs 1.70 lakh crore for the month. The figure reflects a 0.7 per cent rise from the Rs 1.69 lakh crore collected in November last year, signalling steady consumption demand even as the broader economic environment remains mixed.

The latest numbers, released through provisional government data, show that while monthly growth has been muted, the year so far continues to display firm momentum. Between April and November 2025, gross GST revenue climbed to Rs 14.75 lakh crore, marking an annual growth of 8.9 per cent.

Slight rise in monthly GST, strong year-to-date trend

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Officials said the November print represents the first full-month reading after recent rate adjustments, making it a key indicator of underlying consumption. Net GST revenue for the month stood at Rs 1.52 lakh crore, up 1.3 per cent from a year ago, supported by stable inflows from services, travel and retail categories.

On a cumulative basis, net revenue has now reached Rs 12.79 lakh crore for April–November, reflecting a 7.3 per cent increase over the previous year.

Mixed picture in domestic collections

Despite a healthy headline number, domestic GST collections slipped slightly. Gross domestic revenue came in at Rs 1.24 lakh crore, a 2.3 per cent decline compared to last year. Officials attributed this to lower IGST inflows on domestic transactions and uneven consumption trends across sectors.

Refunds also contributed to the softer domestic print. Overall refunds for November fell 4 per cent to Rs 18,196 crore. Export refunds rose 3.5 per cent, while domestic refunds dropped 12 per cent, suggesting a sharp correction in input-credit adjustments by firms.

Imports continue to drive tax momentum

GST from imports remained robust. Gross import revenue rose 10.2 per cent to Rs 45,976 crore, indicating sustained external demand, particularly in machinery, electronics and industrial inputs. The rise in import-linked GST helped cushion the slowdown in domestic revenue.

The compensation cess, which continues only as a transitional measure to support state finances, fell sharply. Net cess revenue dropped to Rs 4,006 crore in November from Rs 12,950 crore last year - a 69 per cent decline - as several arrears have now been settled.

States show uneven performance, Northeast leads

GST trends across states were far from uniform. Several Northeastern states posted strong growth, led by Arunachal Pradesh’s sharp 33 per cent rise. Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Assam also saw healthy double-digit or high-single-digit increases.

In contrast, Mizoram, Sikkim and Ladakh recorded steep declines, reflecting volatile tax bases and erratic consumption cycles.

Among larger states, Maharashtra (3 per cent), Karnataka (5 per cent) and Kerala (7 per cent) registered moderate gains. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal all reported year-on-year declines, signalling patchy economic activity in major manufacturing and consumption hubs.

Union Territories, too, saw divergent patterns - Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose 9 per cent, while Lakshadweep posted an unusually sharp drop of 85 per cent.

Sector trends offer a clearer clue to consumption

The food and hospitality segment saw consumption rise from 11 per cent last year to 17 per cent this year. Passenger vehicle and bus categories saw strong momentum in September–October, with taxable supply rising 20 per cent against 12 per cent last year.

Pharma recorded 13 per cent growth compared to 5 per cent a year earlier, while cement - a key proxy for construction - logged a significant 19 per cent rise against just 2 per cent the previous year. Officials said these category-wise indicators point to stable consumption, a rebound in travel and sustained infrastructure activity.