GST cess may fall short of Rs 1.37 lakh crore for states compensation

The GST compensation cess fund might have a ₹1.37 lakh crore shortfall by March 31 due to ₹50,000 crore interest on Covid loans. An additional ₹13,000 crore compensation may be required after reconciling audited accounts. The Centre is confident cess collections until March 31, 2026, will address this shortfall.