Punjab Leads Major States With 18.77% SGST Cash Growth, Revenue Collections Growing By Leaps & Bounds: Harpal Singh Cheema
Punjab’s Gross GST Revenue Rises 17% To ₹12,861 Crore In April-August, Credits to Honest Taxpayers & Enforcement: Harpal Singh Cheema
‘Every Fraud Network Will Be Traced, GST Fraudsters Beware’: Harpal Singh Cheema
CHANDIGARH; 1 September, 2026:
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.”
Highlighting the contribution of SGST cash collections, he added, “SGST cash collection rose from ₹750.37 crore to ₹891.24 crore. This jump of ₹140.87 crore reflects an 18.77% growth, the highest SGST cash growth reported by any major state in the country for the month.”
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.”
Emphasising the role of honest taxpayers while warning against financial malpractices, he stated, “To nip tax evasion in the bud, the department has significantly stepped up its enforcement actions.”
Giving details of the enforcement operations, the Finance Minister said, “On August 20, 2026, three cases were registered at Mandi Gobindgarh under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for GST evasion. The offenders brought to light include Narinder Singh, proprietor of M/s N.K. Traders in Motia Khan, Gobindgarh (FIR No. 277); Kingraj, proprietor of M/s KH Traders in Gobindgarh, originally from Patrewala in Fazilka (FIR No. 278); and Hanish, proprietor of M/s Hanish Enterprises in Gobindgarh, hailing from Pinjore in Panchkula (FIR No. 279).”
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.”
He further stated, “This investigation revolves around bogus purchases, wrongful availment of input tax credit, and brazen attempts to siphon refunds from the public exchequer. Further investigations are underway to get to the bottom of this racket, identify all connected entities, and recover every single penny of the remaining amount.”
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. At the same time, our message to those using bogus billing, fake input tax credit, or fraudulent refund chains is unambiguous: every such network will be traced, public revenue will be protected, and action will be taken strictly in accordance with law. The additional revenue will strengthen the state’s capacity to fund public services and development.”
Giving credit where credit is due, the Finance Minister concluded by giving a well-deserved pat on the back to compliant taxpayers and the dedicated officers of the Excise and Taxation Department for the vastly improved collections. He assured the public that the Punjab Government would continue to walk the talk, combining taxpayer facilitation with data-led scrutiny, aggressive field enforcement, and prompt action against organized tax fraud.
