LUCKNOW, Sept. 4 -- The UP government on Thursday claimed an increase in its tax revenue, including Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Value Added Tax (VAT) earnings for August 2026, as compared to August 2025. "Though it was assumed revenue might fall after GST slabs were reduced in September 2025, the comparison between August 2025 and August 2026 reveals that revenue has gone up," finance minister Suresh Khanna said at a press conference. A total of Rs.18,857 crore was realised in August 2026 against Rs.16,576 crore in August 2025, an increase of Rs.2281 crore. "In fact, when taxes are lowered, the volume goes up. This is how revenue has also gone up in Uttar Pradesh," Khanna said while releasing details of the state government's tax and non-tax earnings. He said Rs.1,01,154.82 crore has been collected up to August in the current financial year against the target of Rs.1,36,501.37 crore under tax revenue heads. GST revenue in August 2026 stood at Rs.7,722 crore, compared to Rs.6,612 crore in August 2025, an increase of Rs.1,110 crore. Under VAT, Rs.3,109 crore revenue was collected in August 2026, compared to Rs.2,660 crore in August 2025, an increase of Rs.449 crore, Khanna said. In excise department, Rs.3933 crore revenue was realised in August 2026 against Rs.3754 crore in the same month in 2025. htc...