Jharkhand Minister Alarmed by Sluggish Revenue Collection
State Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore voiced strong dissatisfaction on Friday regarding the concerning performance of revenue collection for the current financial year up to October. During a comprehensive review meeting, the minister discovered that the commercial taxes department had managed to collect only 49.41% of the ambitious annual target set at Rs 26,500 crore.
The minister emphasized that by October, the department should have ideally reached approximately 58% of its annual target. Expressing his disappointment with the current figures, Kishore issued clear directives to officials to intensify their efforts and accelerate revenue collection in the remaining five months before the financial year concludes in March 2026.
Recovery Targets and Action Plan
Radhakrishna Kishore stressed the absolute necessity of achieving 100% of the revenue target, urging officials to demonstrate greater urgency in multiple critical areas. He specifically highlighted the need to recover outstanding arrears amounting to approximately Rs 3,150 crore in VAT and GST payments. Additionally, the minister instructed officials to expedite the resolution of numerous cases pending in various courts, which involve substantial amounts totaling Rs 4,241 crore.
The finance minister also outlined strategic measures to enhance revenue generation from internal sources, emphasizing that this would significantly augment financial resources available for the state's development initiatives. In a strong move against fraudulent practices, Kishore directed officials to file First Information Reports (FIRs) against individuals and entities obtaining fake GST registrations, aiming to prevent further revenue leakage.
Addressing Challenges and Future Outlook
While acknowledging the practical challenges faced by the department, including shortages in human resources and inadequate infrastructure such as insufficient vehicles, the minister insisted that officials must overcome these limitations through determined effort and innovative approaches.
"Only if Jharkhand becomes economically strong will the country's market be ready to provide economic support to us," Kishore stated, underlining the crucial connection between the state's financial health and its ability to attract national economic backing.
The significant review meeting saw participation from key officials including Commercial Tax Department Secretary Amitabh Kaushal and Commissioner Amit Kumar, along with department representatives from Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Hazaribag, Dhanbad, and Santhal Pargana divisions, indicating the statewide importance of addressing the revenue collection shortfall.
