India’s GST Collection for April 2025: A Comprehensive Analysis of Growth, Trends, and Fiscal Signals
Introduction
India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime continues to evolve as a critical barometer of the country’s economic health. April 2025 marked a significant milestone with gross GST collections reaching ₹2,36,716 crore, a 12.6% year-on-year (YoY) increase from April 2024’s ₹2,10,267 crore. The rise reflects both macroeconomic growth and improved compliance and enforcement measures.
Key Highlights of April 2025 GST Revenue
| Metric | April 2024 (₹ Cr) | April 2025 (₹ Cr) | Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross GST Revenue | 2,10,267 | 2,36,716 | 12.6% |
| Domestic GST Revenue | 1,71,433 | 1,89,803 | 10.7% |
| Import GST Revenue | 38,835 | 46,913 | 20.8% |
| Refunds Issued | 18,434 | 27,341 | 48.3% |
| Net GST Revenue | 1,91,833 | 2,09,376 | 9.1% |
Revenue Composition Breakdown
Domestic vs Import Revenue
- Domestic collections grew by 10.7%, led by stronger consumption across goods and services.
- Import-related GST, driven by robust external demand and increased imports, rose sharply by 20.8%.
Component-wise Contribution
| Component | April 2025 (₹ Cr) | YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|
| CGST | 48,634 | ↑ 10.9% |
| SGST | 59,372 | ↑ 10.9% |
| IGST | 1,15,259 | ↑ 15.7% |
| CESS | 13,451 | ↑ 1.4% |
While IGST showed the most significant jump (especially due to imports), CESS collections remained almost flat, indicating stable consumption in goods attracting CESS such as luxury and sin goods.
Refund Trends: Rising Significantly
Refunds rose 48.3% YoY, from ₹18,434 crore in April 2024 to ₹27,341 crore in April 2025. This surge is primarily attributed to:
- Export refunds through ICEGATE nearly doubling.
- Higher volume of refund claims under inverted duty structures and zero-rated supplies.
The increasing refunds may indicate a more vibrant export sector and improved administrative efficiency.
State-wise GST Growth Analysis
Top Performing States (YoY Growth)
| State | April 2025 Collection (₹ Cr) | Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Arunachal Pradesh | 332 | 66% |
| Meghalaya | 350 | 50% |
| Nagaland | 122 | 42% |
| Lakshadweep | 5 | 287% |
| Andaman & Nicobar | 78 | 21% |
These jumps are reflective of low base effects, increased compliance, and possibly new economic activities or large infrastructure projects.
Major Contributors by Value
| State | Collection (₹ Cr) | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | 41,645 | 17.6% |
| Karnataka | 17,815 | 7.5% |
| Gujarat | 14,970 | 6.3% |
| Tamil Nadu | 13,831 | 5.8% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 13,600 | 5.7% |
These industrial and consumption-heavy states continue to anchor the GST regime with their significant fiscal contributions.
Centre vs State Contributions
State-wise Collection Channels
- Collections are tracked separately under central and state formations.
- For example, Delhi’s April 2025 GST collection:
- By Centre: ₹3,476 crore
- By State: ₹4,784 crore
Post-Settlement Realities
The post-settlement SGST + IGST settlement to states saw an overall decline of -12%, driven by a ₹23,000 crore ad-hoc IGST recovery for previous fiscal adjustments.
Without this adjustment, the growth would have been a healthy 13%, underscoring the underlying strength of state-level fiscal performance.
Net Revenue After Refunds
| Component | April 2025 (₹ Cr) | YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Net Domestic Revenue | 1,76,418 | ↑ 9.9% |
| Net Customs Revenue | 32,958 | ↑ 5.2% |
| Total Net GST | 2,09,376 | ↑ 9.1% |
The refund-adjusted revenue still shows robust growth, highlighting India’s stable indirect tax base.
Interpretation and Economic Signals
Positive Indicators:
- Double-digit gross revenue growth aligns with India’s GDP growth projections.
- Import surge implies a buoyant domestic manufacturing sector dependent on global supply chains.
- Consistent state-level growth reveals widespread compliance and recovery across geographies.
Cautionary Notes:
- High refund growth needs monitoring to ensure it is not leading to revenue leakages.
- Flat or negative growth in some northeastern states like Mizoram (-28%) and Tripura (-7%) demands deeper analysis.
- Adjustment in IGST settlement could skew fiscal autonomy for some states temporarily.
Conclusion
The GST collections in April 2025 paint a picture of a growing and stabilizing economy with enhanced compliance, vibrant state-wise performances, and a shift in consumption patterns. While the year-on-year growth is encouraging, consistent policy calibration and technological strengthening (like AI-based invoice matching and e-way bill integration) will be vital to sustaining this momentum.
India’s GST architecture, despite being relatively young, is proving resilient and adaptive to economic realities — a promising sign as the country pushes for a $5 trillion economy.
Read This: India’s GST Collections for March 2025: Trends, Insights, and Implications
Source: https://tutorial.gst.gov.in/downloads/news/approved_monthly_gst_data_for_publishing_apr_2025.pdf
