GST Day 2020, marking the third anniversary of the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax, was observed across the country by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and its field formations on 1 July 2020, largely through virtual platforms in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. In her message on the occasion, Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman underscored the role of GST in breaking economic barriers and advancing the vision of “One Nation, One Tax, One Market” as part of building an AatmaNirbhar Bharat. She noted that GST administration has steadily evolved based on stakeholder feedback, but emphasised the need for continued efforts to further simplify compliance and proactively address issues faced by the business community. The Finance Minister also commended CBIC officers for their dedication during the pandemic, particularly for timely refund disbursals that helped ease liquidity pressures on taxpayers. Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs Shri Anurag Thakur echoed these views, stressing the need to make return filing simpler, speed up processing of returns, and facilitate faster availability of input tax credit, while appreciating the effective use of IT systems and remote working to process refunds during lockdown. CBIC Chairman Shri M. Ajit Kumar, addressing officers virtually, reiterated the importance of taxpayer outreach, grievance redressal, and translating the government’s Ease of Doing Business vision into day-to-day tax administration.