India’s Food Ministry finds discrepancies in sugar mills’ GST filings

India’s Food Ministry found discrepancies in GST returns filed by sugar mills for August 17–19 and has initiated appropriate proceedings. It has asked the mills to submit details of sugar sales from August 20–31 by October 10. The government will conduct intensive on-site inspections from October 9. Sugar mills must fulfill 45% of their sales quota for the first week of October and the remainder in the second week; otherwise, action will be taken under the Essential Commodities Act. The move aims to curb rising sugar prices ahead of Diwali. The average retail price has fallen from about 70 rupees per kilogram at the end of August to 55.06 rupees per kilogram.