The GST collection of which months in 2023 stood at ₹1.72 lakh crore, the second highest-ever?

### Concept & Economy Data The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a comprehensive indirect tax in India. The monthly collections are closely monitored as indicators of domestic economic activity and consumption. ### Step-by-Step Solution * The highest-ever gross GST collection was recorded in April 2023 at approximately ₹1.87 lakh crore. * The second-highest collection benchmark was achieved in October 2023, hitting ₹1.72 lakh crore. * This surge in October was largely driven by domestic transactions and heightened economic activity during the festive season. ### Exam Strategy & Shortcut For memory-based economic data questions, associate major spikes with standard economic cycles—April usually peaks due to financial year-end spillover, while October/November spike due to major festive season demand (Diwali/Dussehra) in India. ### Common Pitfall A common mistake is confusing the financial year-end highest peak (April) with the festive season peak (October), leading to incorrect guesses like September or August. ### Final Answer Therefore, the correct answer is **October**.