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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Andhra will be future hub for wellness, happiness: CM Naidu
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said the state will emerge as the future destination for wellness and happiness. Andhra will be future hub for wellness, happiness: CM Naidu Addressing a tourism conclave in Vijayawada, Naidu said his goal is to make Andhra Pradesh a wealthy, healthy, and happy state. "Andhra Pradesh will be the future destination for wellness and happiness. My goal is a wealthy, healthy, happy Andhra Pradesh—that is the goal I have set," the Chief Minister said. He unveiled an ambitious vision to position Andhra Pradesh as a global leader in tourism, describing the sector as the engine of future growth and emphasising its central role in driving economic transformation, employment generation, and cultural promotion. Observing that one in every ten jobs created globally comes from the tourism sector, Naidu said it generates eight jobs for every ₹ 1 lakh invested, more than sectors like IT, manufacturing, and agriculture. Naidu outlined plans to grow the sector's employment share from 12 per cent to 15 per cent and increase its contribution to the state's Gross State Domestic Product from ₹ 74,000 crore to ₹ 2.4 lakh crore by 2029. From the 19,500 hotel rooms currently available in the state, Naidu said the target is to scale up to 50,000 rooms by 2029. Highlighting the potential for temple tourism, Naidu said Andhra Pradesh is home to 21 temples that each generate over ₹ 1 crore annually. From ancient cities and a 1,000-kilometre coastline to forest reserves and riverine systems like the Godavari and Krishna, Naidu listed the state's natural and spiritual strengths. The government is developing seven anchor hubs—Visakhapatnam, Araku, Rajahmundry, Amaravati, Srisailam, Gandikota, and Tirupati—along with over 25 thematic circuits, including 10 temple circuits, five coastal circuits, four river routes, two cruise circuits, two Buddhist circuits, and three eco-tourism trails, he said, detailing the TDP-led NDA government's plans to promote tourism. Presenting the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Policy 2024–29 as a game changer, Naidu said the government has granted industry status to the tourism sector. Incentives for tourism investors include 100 per cent stamp duty exemption, electricity duty reimbursement for five years, State Goods and Services Tax reimbursements for up to 15 years, and fast-tracked clearances under the "speed of doing business" initiative. Speed of doing business in real-time will cut red tape, and I am ready to introduce more reforms if needed, he said. Further, Naidu invited yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who attended the event, to serve as Andhra Pradesh's advisor for tourism. "I am asking Baba Ramdevji to be our advisor for tourism. He will be the best brand manager and promoter for Andhra Pradesh. Then, automatically, tourism will flourish in the state in a big way," Naidu added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
GST collection in May witnesses 97.29% rise
Prayagraj: The State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) department of Prayagraj zone has achieved a remarkable milestone in May 2025 by recording a historic GST collection of Rs 357.64 crore. This marks an astonishing 97.29% growth as compared to May 2024, when the department collected Rs 181.28 crore. Remarkably, this is the third time since the implementation of GST in July 2017 that the department crossed the Rs 350 crore mark in monthly revenue. The department previously hit a record high in April 2025, collecting Rs 406.37 crore. According to the officials this surge in revenue could be clearly attributed to the large-scale religious event, Maha Kumbh, held in Prayagraj. The event significantly boosted business activities across sectors such as tourism, hospitality, transportation, and retail. Adding to the city's achievement, while the overall GST collection growth across Uttar Pradesh stood at 12.89% for May, Prayagraj alone recorded a phenomenal increase, reinforcing its importance as a major contributor to the state's economy. The transport sector alone contributed approximately Rs 40 crore due to increased logistics and transport activities during Maha Kumbh. Additional commissioner of the State Commercial Tax department Dinanath acknowledged the committed efforts of officers and staff, along with timely return filings by taxpayers, as key factors behind the impressive figures. He added that if this trend continues, future months may witness even higher collections. "This robust growth is a clear indicator of a recovering and thriving economy, reflecting increased compliance, economic activity, and effective departmental strategies. Collection increased due to the combined efforts of the officers and employees of the department," he said.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Iron trader held by GST team for 26cr tax fraud
Raipur: A 32-year-old iron trader from Raipur, was arrested by State Goods and Services Tax (GST) officials in connection with a fraudulent tax credit scheme that cost the govt a whooping loss of Rs 26 crores in revenue. According to joint commissioner Narendra Verma, the trader, Aman Agarwal, has been involved in fictitious transactions under the guise of bogus firms from 2023 to 2025, with a total of Rs. 262 crore worth of buying and selling transactions. Agarwal is accused of availing Rs. 26 crore in input tax credit by creating fake sales with these ghost companies. Special commissioner, Chhattisgarh GST T L Dhruv said that the challan will be put up in court and further probe will be done. Agarwal, who runs iron scrap and steel businesses, reportedly created 10 fake firms, to manipulate the tax system. He used these firms to show inflated purchases between 2023 and 2025, claiming tax credits that were later passed off to other traders in the state. The fake firms were allegedly responsible for purchasing iron and steel products worth Rs. 144 crore, resulting in a Rs. 26 crore tax loss for the state. Agarwal even listed deceased individuals as the owners of some of these firms, officials said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending Local Enterprise Accounting Software [Click Here] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo For instance, he reported transactions for companies registered under names of people who had died in 2010, but the purchases were shown in 2013 and 2015. Agarwal was arrested under GST Sections 69 and 132B and the police and GST officials are continuing their investigation. Authorities say this case highlights the growing issue of tax fraud in the state and have assured that they will continue to monitor such operations closely.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
State GST department busts spurious diesel network
The State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) department has kicked-off Statewide raids against a reportedly organised racket engaged in the manufacture and sale of spurious diesel. Around 500 officers of the Intelligence and Enforcement divisions of the department are carrying out inspections in around 40 locations, including manufacturing units and residences of middlemen, in eight districts. According to a senior department official, these units were involved in recycling industrial waste oil, adding chemicals to it and selling it as 'biodiesel.' Their customers were mainly fishing boat operators and quarry/crusher units which use it as fuel. The racket has also been causing significant tax loss to the State. In the Kanjikode industrial area of Palakakad district alone, 13 units, many of which operated under the name of 'biorefinery,' were raided. In Ernakulam district, the inspections covered 16 locations, most of them in north Kalamassery area. Four locations in Thrissur, three in Malappuram, and one each in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Kollam and Kozhikode were raided on Tuesday. The inspections were still underway at the time of filing this report. The SGST department's operation, christened Fuego Marino, was launched on Tuesday morning. A senior SGST official said that there was every reason to suspect an organised setup behind the racket. The units were under close watch for the past three to four months. Tax loss to the State aside, it is also suspected that profits from the illegal business were being channelled to a money laundering racket as well, the department said in a statement. Besides, the use of such illegal fuels could cause damage to the environment as well as the machinery that it is used to operate, the department said. The department's intelligence wing is also examining whether the racket has interstate connections.
Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Raids on readymade garment traders in Gujarat reveal tax evasion worth Rs 1.48 crore: SGST Department
Following raids on 15 traders in different parts of the state earlier this week, the State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) department in Gujarat said on Saturday that it had unearthed tax evasion of nearly Rs 1.48 crore in the B2C (business-to-consumer) readymade garments sector. In what it described as a proactive move to address the growing concern of sales without invoices, and under-reporting of tax liabilities in the B2C sector, 'the State GST Department conducted searches on May 21 on 15 taxpayers located in Mehsana, Palanpur and Ahmedabad, engaged in the trading of readymade garments'. During these searches, the department said it uncovered several irregularities, such as concealed sales and deliberate under-reporting of taxable transactions to avail benefits under the composition scheme. Businesses with annual turnover of up to Rs 1 crore can opt for the composition scheme under which traders and manufacturers are allowed to pay taxes at a reduced rate of 1%. The Gujarat SGST department said it has initiated appropriate legal action to recover the tax amount evaded, and secure the government's revenue.
