The Indian government has provided details on GST raids and inspections in a response to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha. The Ministry of Finance clarified that GST officers conduct inspections, searches, and seizures under Section 67 of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017, and corresponding State GST Acts. These actions are initiated to address non-compliance and are based on specific intelligence, data analytics, and information from other tax authorities. The Ministry stated that the central government does not maintain a consolidated record of the number of raids and inspections carried out by the GST wings of all states and union territories, including Punjab. Such records are maintained by the respective state tax administrations. Furthermore, the central government has no information on whether state governments issue directives to Excise and Taxation Officers (ETOs) regarding a fixed number of raids per month. The Ministry also confirmed that it has not issued any directions to state governments to ensure transparency in this area, as state tax administrations operate under the jurisdiction of their respective state governments.

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1279
TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, 28^th July, 2025/Sravana 6, 1947 (Saka)

Raids and Inspection by GST Wing

1279. Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Excise and Taxation Officers (ETOs) of the GST wing carried out number of raids every month in the country and particularly in Punjab, if so, the details and the reasons thereof;

(b) whether the Government has a record of the number of raids and inspections carried out by the GST wing of all States and UTs especially in Punjab during the last five years;

(c) whether the State Government can issue any directions to ETOs regarding conducting a fixed number of raids every month;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government has issued any directions to the State Governments to ensure transparency in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)
*****

a) The GST officers carry out Inspection, search and seizure under provisions of section 67 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 and the respective State GST Acts for unearthing non-compliance with the provisions of the said GST Laws. This is based on inputs received from specific intelligence, data analytics, information from other tax formations, etc.

b) No sir, the record of such inspections and search are maintained by the respective State tax administrations only.

c & d) Information in this regard is not available with the Central Government.

e) No direction in this regard has been issued by the Central Government as the State tax administration is under the jurisdiction of the respective State Government.