CHANDIGARH: Striking a perfect balance between facilitating business and enforcing the law, Punjab has painted a picture of robust economic health this August. The state has not only registered an impressive 11.84% year-on-year growth in net GST revenue but has also led major Indian states with a stellar 18.77% surge in State GST (SGST) cash collections.
Sharing these milestones on Tuesday, Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The state’s financial collections are growing by leaps and bounds. The state recorded a net GST revenue of ₹2,406.33 crore in August 2026, a substantial leap from the ₹2,151.63 crore collected in August 2025. This increase of ₹254.70 crore translates to a solid 11.84% growth.”
For the April to August 2026 period, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Punjab’s gross GST revenue reached ₹12,861.42 crore, compared to ₹10,971.62 crore during the corresponding period in 2025. This translates to an increase of ₹1,889.80 crore, charting a steady 17% growth rate. The combined collection swelled by 15.74%, rising from ₹619.18 crore in August 2025 to ₹716.66 crore in August 2026.”
Describing a separate operation by the State GST Mobile Wing, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “In a separate, high-stakes operation, the State GST Mobile Wing caught wind of and dismantled a suspected bogus-refund network involving a firm identified as M/s Aone International. Catching the culprits red-handed, this decisive action led to the recovery of ₹1 crore in cash and the freezing of approximately ₹18 lakh in a bank account. Furthermore, refund applications amounting to a massive ₹5 crore were stopped pending verification.”
Summarizing the dual approach of the state, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema was crystal clear in his resolve. He said, “Punjab’s strong revenue performance reflects the growing trust of honest taxpayers, sustained economic activity, and a technology-driven tax administration.
