With the government anticipating goods and services tax (GST) collection to fall below Rs 1 trillion in June -- the first time in nine months -- owing to Covid-led disruption, compensation to states is set to exceed cess collection for the second year in a row.
The GST compensation of states is expected to widen to Rs 2.5-3 trillion in FY22 as against the cess collection of Rs 1 trillion estimated in the Budget. It is higher than Rs 2.35 trillion compensation requirement estimated last year by the Centre for FY21.
Economists estimate that the cess collection may fall short by Rs