India celebrated the 8th anniversary of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on July 1, 2025. Introduced in 2017, GST replaced multiple indirect taxes with a unified tax system, simplifying compliance, boosting revenue, and promoting economic integration.

The government also emphasized ongoing reforms to further improve efficiency and resolve pending disputes.

Key Points

• GST was launched on July 1, 2017, replacing 17 central and state taxes and 13 cesses with a unified, destination-based tax structure across India.
• In FY 2024–25, gross GST revenue touched a record ?22.08 lakh crore, reflecting a 9.4% growth over the previous fiscal year.
• The number of GST taxpayers has grown significantly, reaching 1.51 crore active users, with over 162 crore returns filed as of May 2025.
• GST has simplified interstate trade, reduced logistics costs, and enhanced the ease of doing business, especially for MSMEs.
• As GST enters its ninth year, the government is focusing on rationalizing tax slabs, expanding the tax base, and addressing over 22,000 pending disputes involving Rs.1.14 lakh crore.