New Delhi, Oct. 14 -- The Finance Ministry is hopeful of meeting the budgetary targets for overall net tax collections this fiscal year, despite a possible shortfall in Central Excise Duty receipts, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Stronger collections from direct taxes, goods and services tax (GST) and customs were expected to offset the shortfall in excise duty, the official added.

The Union Budget has pegged net tax collections, including direct and indirect taxes, at Rs 28.7 lakh crore for the current fiscal year.

Net direct tax collections rose 13 per cent year-on-year to Rs 12.1 lakh crore between April 1 and September 17, according to Income Tax Department data. Central GST (CGST) collections crossed Rs 2.42 lakh cr...