New Delhi: India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections in January 2026 surged 6.2% year-on-year, crossing ₹1.93 lakh crore, according to government data released on February 1. Net revenue rose 7.6% to ₹1.70 lakh crore, while import-related GST revenue increased 10%, reflecting strong domestic demand and rising import activity.
January 2026 GST Collections at a Glance
- Total GST collected: ₹1.93 lakh crore (January 2025: ₹1.82 lakh crore)
- Net GST revenue after refunds: ₹1,70,719 crore (growth of 7.6%)
- Refunds: ₹22,665 crore (decline of 3.1%)
- Import GST collections: ₹52,253 crore (10.1% increase)
The total gross GST collections from April 2025 to January 2026 reached ₹18.43 lakh crore, up 8.3% from the same period last year.
Experts attribute the rise to improved compliance, robust domestic consumption, and higher import activity, despite a slowdown in cess collections and refunds.
Read also: Gujarat Records Strong 13% GST Growth in January 2026, SGST Collections Reach ₹7,742 Crore
State-Wise Performance
States showed mixed performance in January:
- Haryana: 27% increase, leading the growth charts
- Chhattisgarh: 23% decline, largest drop among states
- Uttar Pradesh: 2% growth
- Delhi: 3% growth
- West Bengal: 1% growth
- Among Union Territories:
- Chandigarh: 15% increase
- Puducherry: 11% increase
- Lakshadweep and Ladakh: decline up to 30%
Manufacturing hubs saw higher collections, while smaller states and UTs experienced fluctuations.
Compensation Cess Collection Plummets
The Compensation Cess fell sharply by 55.6% to ₹5,768 crore in January 2026. Experts attribute this decline to the gradual dismantling of the transitional compensation mechanism, which initially compensated states for revenue losses after GST implementation.
Record Collections in April 2025
The highest GST collection so far was recorded in April 2025, with ₹2.37 lakh crore, marking a 12.6% year-on-year increase. The previous record was ₹2.10 lakh crore in April 2024.
GST Reflects Economic Health
GST collections are widely seen as a barometer of India’s economic activity. Strong collections indicate:
- Increased consumer spending
- Higher industrial and factory output
- Improved tax compliance
Since its implementation on July 1, 2017, GST has subsumed 17 central and state taxes and 13 cesses, simplifying India’s indirect tax structure.
