The Directorate General of Taxpayer Services (DGTS), Ahmedabad Zonal Unit and Mumbai Zonal Unit, jointly organised a Hybrid Seminar-cum-Webinar on "GST Awareness & Overview" in association with JG University at its Asia Campus, Ahmedabad, on 30 June 2026 to commemorate the successful completion of nine years of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The programme was addressed virtually by Shri Sumit Kumar, IRS, Principal Additional Director General, DGTS, AZU, Ahmedabad,in the presence of Dr. CA Achyut Dani, Director General & Provost, JG University, faculty members, students, taxpayers, representatives of trade and industry, tax professionals, academicians and other stakeholders. The programme aimed to create awareness about GST, promote voluntary compliance and strengthen stakeholder engagement through taxpayer education.

In his inaugural address, Shri Sumit Kumar welcomed the participants and described GST as one of the most significant economic reforms in independent India. He observed that the idea of a unified indirect tax system, first envisioned in 2000, became a reality with the introduction of GST on 1 July 2017. He said that GST has brought multiple indirect taxes under one system, creating a common national market and improving transparency, ease of doing business and tax compliance.

He stated that GST is a democratic tax reform implemented through a Constitutional Amendment with the consent of the States, reflecting the spirit of cooperative federalism. He also highlighted that the digital GST ecosystem has reduced paperwork, simplified compliance and removed the cascading effect of taxes that existed under the earlier indirect tax regime.

Shri Sumit Kumar appreciated the contribution of taxpayers, trade and industry, tax professionals and other stakeholders in the successful implementation of GST. He noted that their continued cooperation has strengthened voluntary compliance and improved tax administration. Referring to the steady growth in GST collections, he observed that the average monthly GST revenue has increased from around ₹94,000 crore in the initial years to nearly ₹1.5 lakh crore, reflecting the growing strength of the GST system.

Emphasising the need for continuous taxpayer awareness, Shri Sumit Kumar said that as GST continues to evolve through legal changes, technological advancements and judicial decisions, taxpayers, businesses, professionals and students should remain updated with the latest developments. He noted that better awareness helps reduce disputes, improves voluntary compliance and promotes a culture of trust between taxpayers and the Government.

Speaking about the role of DGTS, Shri Sumit Kumar informed the participants that the Directorate is a taxpayer-centric organisation under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance. He explained that DGTS works towards taxpayer education, awareness, stakeholder engagement, collection of taxpayer feedback and facilitation of grievance redressal. He encouraged taxpayers to approach DGTS with their suggestions and genuine grievances relating to GST and Customs so that issues could be addressed promptly. He also noted that the Ahmedabad Zonal Unit serves Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Chhattisgarh, while the Mumbai Zonal Unit serves Maharashtra and Goa, and expressed satisfaction that both Zonal Units had jointly organised the programme in association with JG University.

Shri Sumit Kumar expressed his appreciation to Shri John Christian, Superintendent (Retired), CBIC, for delivering the technical session. Shri John Christian provided a comprehensive overview of the GST ecosystem and explained its evolution over the last nine years. He compared the pre-GST and GST tax regimes and explained key concepts such as registration threshold limits, Input Tax Credit (ITC), Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), Tax Collected at Source (TCS), blocked credits, the Composition Scheme, demand and litigation provisions, e-Invoicing and the e-Way Bill system. He also highlighted various digital initiatives introduced under GST to simplify compliance and improve taxpayer services.

The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, entrepreneurs, taxpayers, representatives of trade and industry, tax professionals and academicians. The interactive session helped participants gain a better understanding of the GST framework, taxpayer rights and obligations, recent developments and various taxpayer facilitation measures. Participants also interacted with DGTS officers and sought clarifications on GST-related issues.

DGTS expressed its appreciation to JG University for partnering in organising the programme and thanked the faculty members, participants and all stakeholders for their valuable support. The Directorate reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening taxpayer education, promoting voluntary compliance and building a transparent, responsive and taxpayer-friendly tax administration through continuous outreach and stakeholder engagement.

The programme concluded with a Vote of Thanks by JG University. The event marked another important step in strengthening GST awareness and reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Government and taxpayers towards building a modern, technology-driven indirect tax system and achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Directorate General of Taxpayer Services (DGTS): An Overview

Established in August 2015 under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), the Directorate General of Taxpayer Services (DGTS) is dedicated to strengthening taxpayer facilitation through awareness, education, grievance redressal, and stakeholder engagement.

The Ahmedabad Zonal Unit, established in November 2015, oversees operations across the States of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, as well as the Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. The Zonal Unit covers three CGST Zones (Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Jaipur), one Customs Zone (Gujarat), and one composite CGST & Customs Zone (Bhopal), comprising 25 executive Commissionerates.

During the previous year, DGTS conducted more than 100 outreach programmes, engaging with over 1.5 lakh taxpayers across the region. Stakeholder engagement, taxpayer awareness, and effective grievance redressal continue to remain the cornerstone of DGTS's mission to promote voluntary compliance and facilitate trade.

Follow DGTS Ahmedabad Zonal Unit:

Email:adg.dgts[at]gov[dot]in
X(Twitter):@AhmedabadDgts
Instagram:dgts.azu
Facebook: DgtsAzu

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