New Delhi, Oct 10 (PTI): Collections of indirect taxes during the first half of the current financial year grew by 25.9 per cent to Rs 4.08 lakh crore, mainly on account of a 46 per cent jump in excise duty collections. The finance ministry said net collections of central excise jumped 46.3 per cent to Rs 1.83 lakh crore during April-September, from Rs 1.25 lakh crore in the year-ago period. Net service tax collections during April-September grew 22.1 per cent to Rs 1.16 lakh crore, on Rs 95,780 crore during the six-month period of the last fiscal. Net customs duty collection during the latest six-month period added up to Rs 1.08 lakh crore, against Rs 1.03 lakh crore, a growth of 4.8 per cent. The government hopes to collect Rs 8.47 lakh crore from direct taxes and Rs 7.79 lakh crore from indirect taxes -- customs, excise and service tax -- n 2016-17.

Source: The Telegraph October 10, 2016 14:26 UTC