Latest news with #Cheema
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Punjab GST collections see record 44% jump in June
Punjab registered a record 44% year-on-year growth in net goods and services tax (GST) collection for June 2025 and 27.01% growth for the first quarter of the 2025-26 financial year, said finance and taxation minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday. Harpal Singh Cheema. Addressing a press conference here, Cheema said that the net GST collection for June 2025 stood at ₹ 2,379.90 crore, reflecting a revenue growth of ₹ 732.21 crore over the ₹ 1,647.69 crore collected in June 2024. 'This follows monthly net growth trends of 15.35% in April and 24.59% in May. During the first quarter, the collection reached ₹ 6,830.40 crore, even amidst the conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025, compared to ₹ 5,377.75 crore during the corresponding period of 2024-25,' he said, after facilitating the top five taxpayers of the state, including Ambuja Cement, HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL), Samsung India Pvt Ltd, Tata Steel and Dada Motors. Launching a scathing attack on the previous SAD-BJP and Congress-led governments, Cheema claimed that while they failed to check tax evasion and improve the state's fiscal health, the AAP government has ensured consistent month-on-month and year-on-year growth. He said the present government registered a GST collection growth rate of 16.25% in FY 2022-23, 15.51% in FY 2023-24, and 12.84% in FY 2024-25, with a total collection of ₹ 62,733 crore in three years. He said that during the Congress regime from 2018-19 to 2021-22, the state merely collected ₹ 55,146 crore. On the recent enforcement activities, Cheema stated that the state intelligence and preventive unit (SIPU) had uncovered a GST fraud syndicate run by an accountant who created and operated 20 fake firms for bogus billing and ITC fraud. Replying to a question, he also stated that the state government recently invested ₹ 1,000 crore each in the guarantee redemption fund (GRF) and consolidated sinking fund (CSF), with the latter now exceeding ₹ 10,000 crore.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Cheema defends Punjab's Rs 8,500cr loan plan, cites legacy debt & RBI limits
1 2 Chandigarh: Reacting to criticism of the AAP govt by the opposition for its plans to raise a loan of Rs 8,500 crore in the second quarter from July to September, finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday said that the state govt planned to borrow funds to meet the redemption obligations of over Rs 3,500 crore for legacy debt. He added that the loan was within the borrowing limits sanctioned by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the projections made in the state budget 2025-26. "The opposition party leaders don't understand economics. Even their household budgets are made by their wives. From the US to our neighbouring Haryana, state economies borrow funds. However, it is being done within the prescribed limits and continuous attempts are being made to bring down the outstanding debt. The RBI has now allowed us to raise loans over the next three months," said Cheema, on the sidelines of a press conference on growth in goods and sales tax (GST) collections. "I had given the quarterly projections of the state's borrowings in the budget presented in March. The entire details were shared in the vidhan sabha. The AAP govt has improved its financial health and that is why the RBI has been approving the borrowing limits well in advance," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Here's The Average Price of a 6-Hour Gutter Guards Upgrade Read More Undo The market borrowings to be undertaken by the state govt have been approved by the RBI. The cash-strapped govt would raise a loan of Rs 2,000 crore in July, Rs 3,000 crore in Aug, and Rs 3,500 crore in Sept. Replying to a media query, Cheema said that the state has to make interest payments of Rs 25,000 crore and principal payments of Rs 18,200 crore on legacy debt availed by the previous SAD-BJP and Congress regimes in FY 2025-26, while planning to borrow Rs 49,900 crore, despite Rs 13,000 crore in deductions by the Centre. He added that the state govt planned to borrow Rs 8,500 crore to meet the redemption obligations of over Rs 3,500 crore for legacy debt in the second quarter of the current financial year alone. "Punjab's fiscal management is on a strong footing, with the state govt taking proactive steps to manage its debt obligations. He highlighted that the Punjab govt recently invested Rs 1,000 crore each in the guarantee redemption fund (GRF) and consolidated sinking fund (CSF), with the latter now exceeding Rs 10,000 crore, a significant increase from Rs 3,000 crore when the current government took office," he added. MSID:: 122185715 413 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Punjab registers record 44% growth in net GST collections in June
The net GST collection last month stood at Rs 2,379.90 crore, reflecting a revenue growth of Rs 732.21 crore over the Rs 1,647.69 crore collected in June 2024 Press Trust of India Chandigarh Punjab registered a record 44.44 per cent growth in net goods and services tax collections at Rs 2,379.90 crore in June 2025, said Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday. Addressing the media here, Cheema said Punjab outpaced the national average in GST collection growth, firmly positioning itself among the top-performing states in tax mobilization despite facing national and geopolitical challenges, including border-related tensions. The net GST collection last month stood at Rs 2,379.90 crore, reflecting a revenue growth of Rs 732.21 crore over the Rs 1,647.69 crore collected in June 2024. This follows the monthly net growth trends of 15.35 per cent in April and 24.59 per cent in May. The net GST collection during the first quarter of 2025-26 reached Rs 6,830.40 crore, even amidst the military conflict between India and Pakistan in May, compared to Rs 5,377.75 crore in the first quarter of 2024-25. This represents a growth rate more than four times the 6.41 per cent growth rate registered during the first quarter of 2024-25. Cheema was accompanied by Secretary (Taxation) Ajit Balaji Joshi and Excise and Taxation Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal. On this occasion, Cheema facilitated top five taxpayers of the state for their contribution to the state's economic growth. Cheema also hit out at the previous SAD-BJP and Congress-led governments, citing their "failure" to check tax evasion and improve the state's fiscal health. He asserted that the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government has ensured consistent month-on-month and year-on-year growth. He noted a GST collection growth rate of 16.25 per cent in 2022-23, 15.51 per cent in 2023-24, and 12.84 per cent in 2024-25, registering a total collection of Rs 62,733 crore in three years. In contrast, during the Congress regime from 2018-19 to 2021-22, the state merely collected Rs 55,146 crore. Similarly, during the SAD-BJP regime, the state witnessed only 4.57 per cent and 2.67 per cent growth in tax collections during 2014-15 and 2015-16, respectively. "The AAP government has already collected more in three years than the Congress government collected in its entire five years," said Cheema. The finance minister further stated that the previous Congress-led state government heavily relied on compensation amounting to Rs 30,070 crore without any future plan for state revenues. "On the contrary, we enhanced field enforcement, targeted data-driven inspections, and improved taxpayer compliance to reduce tax evasion and safeguard the state's financial stability," he added. Revealing details of recent enforcement activities, the minister highlighted that the State Intelligence and Preventive Unit (SIPU) uncovered a GST fraud syndicate run by an accountant who created and operated 20 fake firms for bogus billing and ITC fraud. Preliminary investigations uncovered fraudulent transactions amounting to Rs 866.67 crore, leading to a tax evasion of Rs 157.22 crore. Additionally, the department uncovered a massive GST evasion involving a Chandigarh-based firm registered as a transporter for its involvement in bogus e-way bill generation and transportation of unaccounted goods amounting to Rs 168 crore, involving a cumulative tax liability of Rs 30.66 crore. Replying to a query on taking more debt, the finance minister said the state has to make an interest payments of Rs 25,000 crore and principal payments of Rs 18,200 crore on legacy debt, availed by the previous SAD-BJP and Congress led state governments, in 2025-26, while planning to borrow Rs 49,900 crore, despite Rs 13,000 crore in deductions by the Government of India. He stated that the state government plans to borrow Rs 8,500 crore to meet the redemption obligations of over Rs 3,500 crore for legacy debt in the second quarter of the current financial year alone. Cheema said Punjab's fiscal management is on a strong footing, with the state government taking proactive steps to manage its debt obligations. He highlighted that the Punjab government recently invested Rs 1,000 crore each in the Guarantee Redemption Fund (GRF) and Consolidated Sinking Fund (CSF), with the latter now exceeding Rs 10,000 crore, a significant increase from Rs 3,000 crore when the current government took office. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: SAD to target govt over ‘vendetta' politics
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday warned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to stop political vendetta, announcing that it would start a people's campaign against the corrupt and scam-ridden government on public issues, including snatching of thousands of acres of fertile land of farmers and protection being given to corrupt AAP leaders. Sukhbir Singh Badal (HT File) The first meeting of the newly constituted core committee of the party, which was presided over by president Sukhbir Singh Badal, also appointed senior leader Gulzar Singh Ranike as the coordinator for the forthcoming Tarn Taran bypoll. The meeting also directed the party observers to complete the task of electing district presidents and forming booth-level meetings. The core committee also decided to conduct a drive to plant one lakh saplings in July as per directives of Akal Takht. The SAD president will lead the drive. Emergency-like situation Giving details of the meeting, senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema said emergency-like conditions were being created in Punjab by the Delhi AAP team led by Arvind Kejriwal which was bent on suppressing the voice of the opposition. 'Bikram Singh Majithia was regularly exposing the government including its corrupt practices and that is the reason that a false case has been registered against him,' Cheema said, adding that the committee thanked leaders from all political parties who had expressed solidarity with Majithia and condemned the AAP government for indulging in a witch hunt. Asserting that the disproportionate assets case would also come to nought like the false case registered against Majithia under the NDPS Act, Cheema said, 'The SAD will continue to expose the AAP government as it has failed to keep any of the promises made to the people. Punjab is reeling under the spell of gangsters, and the drug mafia is ruling the roost. The law and order situation is at its worst ever. The entire governance has been outsourced to outsiders who have been adjusted in top positions'. Cheema said the core committee had also discussed the manner in which the AAP government was set to forcibly acquire 24,000 acres of land in Ludhiana besides hundreds of acres of land across the state. 'Thousands of farm labourers would also lose their livelihood in the process. The land acquisition is a scam as farmers are being forced to give up their land and will not be fairly compensated for the same. We will not let this open loot of our land succeed at any cost,' he asserted. The committee noted that even as opposition leaders were being framed in false cases, the government had given a clean chit to former minister Vijay Singla, against whom a case was registered as per evidence in the possession of chief minister Bhagwant Mann. The committee also expressed solidarity with singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh and asserted that the latter was being wrongfully persecuted over casting a Pakistani actress, Hania Amir, in the movie Sardaar Ji 3.
Metro
2 days ago
- Health
- Metro
Why people taking antidepressants should be careful taking the Tube this summer
If you're travelling on the Tube this summer, you're probably already hot, sweaty and miserable. But if you're on antidepressants, you might also be at risk of overheating. The hottest temperature ever recorded on the London Underground is up for debate. TfL's official statistics recorded 33.1C on the Victoria Line in August 2024. Ask any commuter down there during a heatwave, however, and they'll tell you it feels more like the burning gates of hell. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), used to treat anxiety, depression and panic disorders, are generally considered safe and effective. But they come with a major side effect that's often overlooked: heat intolerance. These common medications can affect the body's ability to regulate temperature, putting people at higher risk of heat exhaustion, especially in sweltering environments like the London Underground. Last year, more than 8.7 million adults were prescribed antidepressants, according to NHS data. Social media is filled with thousands of people's experiences with them, good and bad. And one common complaint in summer is the heat. Some have said they've been 'melting' and 'overheating', while temperatures have been hitting 30C, while others compare it to being 'burnt alive'. 'Taking antidepressants doesn't mean you can't enjoy summer, but it does mean you mean you need to be extra cautious during extreme heat,' Dr Asim Cheema, an internal Medicine and Cardiology specialist at Your Doctors Online, tells Metro. Dr Cheema explains that certain antidepressants, including SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, and SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors), can impair the body's ability to regulate temperature. 'Some affect the hypothalamus (which controls temperature regulation), while others reduce sweating, making it harder for the body to cool down naturally,' he explains. 'This can increase the risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration, and even heatstroke during periods of high temperature.' Dr Cheema says this can occur when taking commonly prescribed SSRIs, like Sertraline and Fluoxetine, SNRIs, like Venlafaxine and Duloxetine, as well as tricyclic antidepressants, like amitriptyline. 'Antipsychotics, beta blockers, diuretics and some antihistamines can also affect heat tolerance,' he adds. If you're travelling to work on sweltering public transport, spending most of the day outside, or just trying to enjoy the sun, there are some common signs of heat exhaustion to look out for. Dr Nikita Kanani, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Aneira Health, tells Metro, this can include dizziness, nausea and heavy sweating. Dr Kanani advises 'acting quickly' if you spot any of these symptoms. He suggests moving to a cooler place, sipping water slowly and using a fan or a damp cloth to cool down. He adds: 'Avoid pushing through your symptoms, listen to your body and importantly, talk to your doctor if symptoms persist – you may need to adjust when you take your medication or review alternatives.' To protect yourselves during the heat, he suggests avoiding direct sun exposure during the hottest part of the day (between 11am and 3pm). 'If you're out, wear a hat, use SPF, and take breaks in the shade. Planning outdoor time for early morning or evening can help reduce risk.' And for those braving sweltering public transport, he advises planning ahead where possible. 'Travel outside peak times, carry water, wear breathable clothing, and use a hand fan. More Trending 'If you feel faint or unwell, get off at the next stop, find somewhere cool, and rest. Never ignore symptoms – overheating can happen quickly.' Dr Kanani adds that while common, this side effect can often be overlooked and isn't routinely discussed. He adds: 'Especially when medications are first prescribed in the cooler months or if someone is starting treatment for the first time. It can also be underestimated in clinical consultations, where the focus is understandably on mental health support. 'As heatwaves become more common, we need to talk more openly about how medication affects our health in real-world conditions – especially for women and people with long-term conditions.' If you're taking antidepressants or any medication that makes you more susceptible to heat, Dr Asim Cheema advises the following: Recognise warning signs: Headache, nausea, confusion, or feeling faint can all signal heat-related distress, which is more likely if you're on certain medications. Stay well-hydrated: Dehydration can worsen side effects like dizziness or lightheadedness. Dress lightly: Wear breathable, loose-fitting clothes. Plan ahead: If you know you'll be on the Tube or in another hot environment, carry water, use cooling towels, and if possible, avoid peak travel times. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ View More » Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
