The Finance and Commercial Taxes Minister of Jharkhand, Radhakrishna Kishore, recently presented the department’s revenue collection figures for the fiscal year 2024-25, signaling a steady upward trajectory in the state’s fiscal performance. This growth is attributed to growing tax compliance and improved administrative efficiency, as well as a renewed focus on policy reform and departmental accountability.
Revenue Collection Figures
- Commercial Taxes Department: ₹22,292.25 crore (achieving 85.74% of the target)
- State GST (SGST) Component: ₹14,210.10 crore (92.42% of the target)
- Professional Tax: ₹102.40 crore (116% of the target)
The minister highlighted that these figures demonstrate a significant improvement in the state’s fiscal performance over the past five years, with a 56.04% increase in total own tax revenue. The SGST revenue has registered a 42.82% rise during the same period.
Initiatives for Transparency and Fiscal Discipline
The minister announced the implementation of mandatory quarterly reviews of revenue collection at the departmental level, with bi-annual reviews to be chaired by him personally. This move aims to promote transparency and accountability within the department.
The minister also flagged concerns over the use of PL (Personal Ledger) Accounts, stating that funds parked under these accounts since 2010 are now under review. This step is aimed at preventing the misuse of funds and ensuring that they are utilized for their intended purposes.
Efforts to Strengthen Tax Collection
The minister emphasized the need to strengthen the Intelligence and Revenue Analysis Unit (IRAU) and the Special Task Unit (STU) to curb tax evasion. These units will play a crucial role in identifying and addressing tax evasion schemes.
The minister also announced the process to appoint a new System Integrator (SI) for GSTN integration and IT system upgrades.