New Delhi, June 2 -- The gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue in May rose 3.2% year-on-year to Rs.1.94 lakh crore from Rs.1.88 lakh crore in the same month last year. The base period, however, included a one-time telecom-related payment of approximately Rs.10,000 crore. Releasing the monthly data on Monday, the Union finance ministry said that excluding the exceptional payment received in May 2025, gross GST collections in May 2026 would have registered a growth of about 9%. While overall GST collections increased, gross domestic GST revenue contracted 2.6% to Rs.1,34,530 crore in May 2026 from Rs.1,38,102 crore a year earlier. According to the ministry, the decline was largely due to the one-time telecom-related payment in the base period, while revenues from imports rose sharply during the month. After refunds, net GST collection in May 2026 stood at Rs.1,66,904 crore, up 3.3% from Rs.1,61,585 crore in the same month last year. "May 2025 GST Revenue includes Rs.10,000 crore of one-time payment made by a telecom operator for spectrum allocation. Adjusted for this one-time payment, Gross GST Revenue grew 9% in May 2026 with Domestic Gross GST growth being 5%. Adjusted Net GST Revenue growth in May 2026 was 10.1%. With no one-time payment in May 2026, adjusted growth is therefore the right measure to evaluate the GST performance for the Month," the ministry said in an explanatory note accompanying the data. Deloitte India partner and indirect tax leader Mahesh Jaising said, "On a year-on-year basis, May collections show a growth of 3.2%; however, adjusting for the one-time telecom-related payment in the base period, the underlying growth is closer to 9%, indicating sustained economic activity." On the sharp sequential decline in gross revenue, he said: "Gross GST collections stood at about Rs.1.94 lakh crore in May, compared to Rs.2.43 lakh crore in April 2026, with the latter typically benefiting from year-end settlements and seasonal strength." Gross GST collection in April 2026 was an all-time high....