Page 14 - Banking Finance May 2025

ROUNDUP

and other stakeholders may follow Highway Construction Spurs 3.21x Growth in India's
@SEBI_updates," the regulator said in
a statement. GDP: Report

The official launch of the account took Investment in highway development has significantly contributed to India's
place on April 4, 2025, and aims to economic growth, with every rupee spent resulting in a 3.21-times increase
enhance direct communication with in GDP, according to a new report.
the investing public. SEBI's move fol- The study, jointly conducted by the Indian Institute of Management, Ban-
lows a broader effort among regula- galore (IIM-B)'s Supply Chain Management Centre and the National High-
tors to leverage social media platforms ways Authority of India, analysed data between 2013 and 2022.
for effective dissemination of critical
The report also highlighted a 9% rise in household income, a 6% growth in
information.
household expenditure, and a 10.4% increase in car sales during the same
By establishing this official channel, period. Additionally, transportation costs decreased by 2.94% between fac-
SEBI seeks to ensure transparency, re- tories and suppliers, and by 1.33% between factories and customers.
duce misinformation, and strengthen The findings underline the crucial role of infrastructure in stimulating eco-
its outreach to a wider stakeholder nomic activity, increasing disposable income, and improving logistics effi-
base.
ciency. The data offers a strong validation of the government's continued
push for expansion of the national highway network to support broader eco-
GST Collections Hit Rs 1.96 nomic development.

Lakh Crore in March, Sec-
riod last year. Further, there has been shareholders so that together, we can
ond Highest Ever a 25.7% surge in export refunds year- make our stock market a more inclu-
Goods and Services Tax (GST) collec- on-year, which indicates that sive and rewarding space for the com-
tions surged by 9.9% year-on-year to government's manufacturing initia- mon investor."
Rs 1,96,141 crore in March 2025, mak- tives are showing positive results." Chawla assured investors that the
ing it the second-highest monthly mop-
For the full year, GST collections higher payout had not impacted capi-
up recorded.
crossed Rs 22 lakh crore, although the tal expenditure plans and targets for
Collections from domestic transactions growth rate moderated to 9.5%. investments would still be met. He
rose 8.8% to nearly Rs 1.5 lakh crore, added that the government would
while collections from imports grew Centre Collects Record Rs adapt its disinvestment strategies
13% to approximately Rs 47,000 crore. based on prevailing market conditions.
Refunds also saw a steep rise of 41%, 74,000 Crore in PSU Divi-
Chawla further urged mutual funds to
with Rs 19,615 crore refunded in dends for FY25 increase exposure to CPSUs to improve
March, largely driven by a 202% surge The government garnered a record Rs returns for retail investors, stating that
in import-related refunds.
74,000 crore in dividends from central meetings with fund houses were being
"India's sustained growth in GST collec- public sector undertakings (CPSUs) dur- scheduled.
tions suggests a resilient domestic ing the last financial year, a senior of-
economy, seemingly insulated from ficial said on Tuesday. Join
global economic challenges, driven by
Speaking to reporters, DIPAM Secre-
strong consumer spending," said Online Certificate
tary Arunish Chawla stated, "While
Saurabh Agarwal, tax partner at EY market capitalisation of public sector Course on
India.
undertakings is only 10% of the overall
He added, "However, a 13.5% in- m-cap, they have distributed about Reinsurance
crease in import GST compared to 25% of total dividends. We will also For details please visit
March 2024 highlights a significant rise encourage private corporations to de- www.smartonlinecourse.co.in
in imports compared to the same pe- clare fair dividends for their minority

BANKING FINANCE | MAY | 2025 | 13