In a significant move, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman declared the green light for biometric Aadhaar authentication within Goods and Services Tax (GST) Seva Kendras specifically for Andhra Pradesh. The implementation aims to streamline the GST registration process while enhancing security measures, stated Sitharaman on Thursday.

Latest statistics revealed a notable upswing in countrywide GST collection for October, reaching a 10-month pinnacle of Rs.1.72 lakh crore. Notably, Andhra Pradesh showcased a robust surge in GST collections, experiencing a substantial 12% annual growth in its post-settlement GST proceeds between April and October 2023.

During the foundation stone laying ceremony of the GST Bhavan in Tirupati, Sitharaman highlighted the remarkable financial achievements. She shared that the Tirupati Commissionerate in Andhra Pradesh recorded a significant sum of Rs.8,264 crore in GST revenue for FY23, with an impressive Rs.5,019 crore collected from April to September 2023. She attributed this striking growth to the contributions from the manufacturing sectors of passenger vehicles, cement, and automotive batteries.

The nation's overall GST collection surged by 13% year-on-year, hitting Rs.1.72 lakh crore in October, marking the second-highest ever revenue collection through GST. The combined collection of the central and state governments in October amounted to Rs.72,934 crore and Rs.74,785 crore, respectively.

During the event, Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra advised officers from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) to maintain their focus on addressing taxpayer grievances effectively.

S&P Forecasts Robust Growth for India's GDP at 6-7.1% for 2024-2026