Excise collection has reached 80% more than pre-covid levels

01/11/2021

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Excise collection has reached 80% more than pre-covid levels

According to official data from the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) showed that Government has collected excise duty of petroleum products more than 79% (almost 80%) compared to pre-covid levels and it has risen by 33% in the first six months of the current fiscal to the last year.

Ministry of Finance prepared the data through CGA which released data in which excise duty collections during April-September 2021 has surged to over Rs.1.71 lakh crore from Rs.1.28 lakh crore in the period of time of the previous fiscal. This surge has done due to steep hike in excise duty rates. In fiscal year 2020-21 excise collection was Rs.3.89 lakh crore and in fiscal year 2019-20 it was Rs.2.39 lakh crore. Excise duty is levied only on petrol, diesel, ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel) and natural gas after the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. Barring these products all other goods and services are under the GST regime.

Why government decided to raise excise duty?

Due to decision of the government to raise excise duty, the total increase in petrol prices since the May 5, 2020 has reached at the record levels now total Rs.37.38 per litre. This decision has been taken to pay oil bonds and the interest thereon which was issued by then government congress led-UPA government. UPA government had issued Rs.1.34 lakh crore oil bonds to the state-fuel retailers instead of paying for the subsidy on petrol, diesel, cooking gas and kerosene. The finance ministry has said that out of these unpaid amount only Rs.3,500 crore of principal has been paid and the remaining amount of Rs.1.3 lakh crore will be paid till the fiscal year 2025-26.