Traders to get ₹1,600-cr. GST refunds as Deepavali gift: CM

 Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday announced that long-pending Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds of nearly ₹1,600 crore will be disbursed before Deepavali to bring relief to Delhi’s trading community and give “new momentum” to the city’s economy.

Ms. Gupta’s announcement about the refunds, which had not been disbursed since 2019, came following a review meeting she chaired with senior officials of the Department of Trade and Taxes at her camp office. “This year, before Deepavali, our government is set to deliver a major gift to Delhi’s traders. The pending GST refund of approximately ₹1,600 crore will soon be credited to their accounts. It is unfortunate that the previous government left traders’ hard-earned capital stuck for years,” the Chief Minister posted on X in Hindi.

‘Will simplify business’

Ms. Gupta said she has directed officials to process all pending, undisputed, and genuine refund applications strictly in line with rules and ensure time-bound disbursal. “Our commitment is to honour Delhi’s traders, simplify business operations, and give new momentum to the Capital’s economic progress,” she said.

The Chief Minister added that the Delhi GST Department and IIT Hyderabad have jointly developed an advanced IT module that will expedite the processing of refund applications. “Timely refunds will ensure adequate liquidity, reduce litigation costs, and accelerate Delhi’s economic growth,” she said.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) welcomed the move, calling it the “rightful due” of traders that had been “deliberately denied”. “The earlier regime neither paid heed to the plight of traders nor returned their hard-earned capital. It is evident that the previous government made hollow promises and deceived traders,” read a statement by CAIT.

Its secretary general and Chandni Chowk BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal stated that the decision would boost liquidity, revive markets, and provide a strong impetus to festive demand.