New Delhi: The BJP on Wednesday lauded the record-high GST collection of Rs 2. lakh crore, saying it highlights the country's strong economic activity and marks a significant milestone in India's fiscal journey.

BJP's chief spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also rated India's growth rate as the highest among major world economies. This, he said, underlines the effectiveness of the policies and reforms of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.

In a statement, he highlighted other highlights of the macro-economic data, including 17.7 per cent rise in direct taxes to Rs 19.58 lakh crore, with retail inflation hitting a 10-month low of 4.85 per cent.

He described the strengthening of the economy as an important moment in India's economic empowerment, which "reinforces" the government's commitment to foster an enabling environment for growth and development."This milestone, the historic first ever collection of over Rs 2 lakh crore, reflects the country's strong economic activity and rising consumption which is an important milestone in India's financial journey. The historic achievement is a promising one for the country," Balun said. Reflects the economic trajectory."

He said, IMF has increased India's GDP growth forecast for fiscal year 2024 to 7.8 percent.

"This significant increase reflects India's strong domestic demand, robust public investment and monetary measures. The IMF's projections for India's growth in 2024 and 2025 are also the highest among major economies," he said.,

Baluni said the IMF is also raising India's GDP growth forecast for FY2025 and this estimate underlines the success of the government's strategic initiative to elevate India's position as a global economic superpower.

He said that according to IMF, India has performed better than other emerging market countries. Baluni said India's economic performance has also been appreciated by other global organizations like the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.

He said, "The upward revision of India's economic growth by the IMF is a historic milestone that underlines India's emergence as a major global economic power. This achievement is a testament to the country's resilience, innovation and sustainable development." It is proof of commitment.,

The BJP leader said this milestone reflects India's successful transformation under Modi's leadership with strong public support.

He said it symbolizes India's potential to play a key role in shaping the future of the global economy while building a brighter and more prosperous future for all its citizens.

Baluni said, through a dynamic leadership, Prime Minister Modi has guided the entire country through challenging global circumstances, ensuring that India remains on the path of inclusive growth.

With the mantra of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas", BJP is committed to taking the country forward and Modi will remain in power for the third term after the general elections, he said.

The BJP chief spokesperson said, "It is 'Modi's guarantee' that through the blessings of the public and effective initiatives of the government, India will move towards becoming the third largest economic power globally.,

The country's gross GS collections hit a record high of Rs 2.10 lakh crore in April, growing 12.4 per cent year-on-year due to strong growth in domestic transactions and imports, the Finance Ministry said in a statement. It said that GST collection has crossed the historic milestone of Rs 2 lakh crore