GST transformed India’s indirect tax system, strengthened cooperative federalism: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis
Mumbai, July 1 (Forever News): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has transformed India’s indirect tax regime into a transparent, technology-driven and taxpayer-friendly system, while strengthening cooperative federalism and significantly improving tax compliance.
Addressing the 9th GST Day celebrations jointly organised by the CGST Mumbai Zone and State GST Maharashtra in Mumbai, Fadnavis said GST has successfully realised the vision of “One Nation, One Tax, One Market.”
He said the reform eliminated the complexities of multiple indirect taxes, including municipal octroi in Maharashtra, reducing compliance burdens for businesses and making the taxation system more efficient. Honest taxpayers have benefited from a level playing field, while technology has helped curb tax evasion, he added.
The Chief Minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing the leadership necessary to implement GST and paid tribute to former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for building consensus among the states. He noted that the Centre’s assurance of 14 per cent annual revenue growth to states during the initial years of GST was instrumental in ensuring the reform’s successful rollout.
Describing the GST Council as one of the strongest examples of cooperative federalism, Fadnavis said the Centre and states continue to take important tax policy decisions through consensus. He also praised the GST Network (GSTN) for enabling seamless implementation through digital governance.
Highlighting Maharashtra’s performance, Fadnavis said the state continues to lead the country in GST collections. During FY 2025-26, Maharashtra received nearly ₹1.87 lakh crore as its GST share and remained India’s highest GST-contributing state, with collections surpassing the combined GST revenue of Karnataka and Gujarat.
The Chief Minister said the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital intelligence and data analytics would further improve tax compliance and make enforcement more efficient. He added that GST 2.0 reforms, including tax rate rationalisation and structural simplification, would continue to improve the Ease of Doing Business across the country.
He also commended officers of the Central and State GST departments for their dedicated efforts in revenue mobilisation, taxpayer services and economic development.
The event was jointly coordinated by Principal Chief Commissioner of CGST and Central Excise, Mumbai Zone, Prachi Saroop, and Commissioner of State GST, Maharashtra, Asheesh Sharma. Senior officials of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), State GST Department, trade bodies, industry representatives and tax professionals participated in the celebrations.
Prachi Saroop highlighted Maharashtra’s robust GST revenue growth during FY 2025-26, attributing it to stronger voluntary compliance, taxpayer outreach initiatives and data-driven administration. She said GST has become one of India’s most successful tax reforms by enhancing transparency, reducing cascading taxes and creating a unified national market.
State GST Commissioner Asheesh Sharma called for further GST reforms, including tax rate rationalisation, simplified compliance procedures and faster technology-driven refunds. He noted that nearly 90 per cent of taxpayers remain compliant and stressed that future reforms should focus on making tax administration more efficient and taxpayer-centric.
Certificates of Appreciation were presented to outstanding officers for their dedicated service and contribution to excellence in tax administration. The programme also showcased taxpayer facilitation initiatives, digital governance measures and best practices adopted by the GST departments.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks to taxpayers, trade associations, tax professionals, State GST authorities and departmental officers for their continued contribution to the success of the GST regime.
