New Delhi, Jan 20 (KNN) In the wake of a weak financial condition of the states during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rajasthan government has urged the Centre to extend the period of grant of Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation to the states by five years, from June 2022 to June 2027.

Urban Development Minister Shanti Dhariwal who represented the State at a pre-Budget consultation meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday made this request and also sought an increase in the Centre’s share in the centrally sponsored schemes.

Dhariwal further said that all the states were facing a revenue deficit because of “lower than expected GST collections”.

Dhariwal said the ratio of the Centre's share in the centrally sponsored schemes should be enhanced to 75 per cent.

''Reduction in the import duty on gold and silver jewellery and precious and semi-precious stones from 7.50 per cent to 2.50 per cent,'' he suggested.

The Minister claimed that the State government had made large-scale efforts to contain the pandemic despite its limited financial resources adding, ‘‘The 3 per cent credit limit would not be sufficient for the State during the next financial year 2021-22.''