# GST collections

• India’s gross GST revenues crossed 1.17 lakh crore rupees in September, hitting a five month high.

• September’s revenues were 23% higher than a year ago and 27.3% more than collections in the pre-pandemic month of September 2019.

• Coupled with economic growth, anti-evasion activities, especially action against fake billers, have also been contributing to the enhanced GST collections.

# Indian citizenship

• The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has simplified the process for Indians who want to renounce their citizenship.

• Provisions have been made for applicants to upload documents online, with an upper limit of 60 days for the renunciation process to be completed.

• Over 6.7 lakh Indians renounced their citizenship between 2015-19, the lok sabha was informed in February.

# Supreme court

• The Supreme court on Friday accused farmers of  “Strangulating the city” (New Delhi) with their protest against the Farm laws.

• Farmer unions were asking the Supreme court to direct the Delhi police to allow them to protest at Jantar mantar.

# India – Srilanka relations

• Foreign secretary Harsh shringla arrived in Colombo on Saturday to assess progress on a number of infrastructure and energy projects.

• The visit is being seen as an attempt to reset ties that have been under a strain over the Srilankan decision to cancel an MOU with India and Japan for Colombo’s East container terminal.

# Vaccine

• India on friday imposed reciprocal Quarantine measures on citizens of the United Kingdom.

• Regulations would enforce a 10 day quarantine on all British nationals in the way that the UK currently enforced similar quarantine measures on fully vaccinated Indian nationals.

• Meanwhile, Australia has recognised the Covishield vaccine produced by SII as a “recognised vaccine” in Australia.

# Purchasing managers index

• Manufacturing activity expanded at a slightly improved pace in September.

• IHS markit’s survey based purchasing managers’ Index has given this data.

• The index rose last month to 53.7, from August’s 52.3.