India's June GST collections rose 13.9%, largely from import IGST; domestic growth was modest. The author attributes this surge to imported inflation and rupee depreciation, not domestic economic strength. High crude, petroleum, and gold imports inflated the tax base, driven by hedging and duty hikes for gold. Subdued core industry performance and moderating manufacturing activity confirm a weaker domestic economy. While GST strengthened the tax framework, recent buoyancy reflects higher prices and currency shifts, not internal production.