The government collected Rs 1.73 lakh crore ($20.64 billion) in gross goods and services tax (GST) in September, a rise of 6.5% from the same period last year.

The government had collected Rs 1.63 lakh crore GST in the same month last year.

This is the second month of a single-digit rise in collections and the lowest pace of growth in 39 months. In June, gross GST collections had expanded 7.7 percent.

After refunds, the government’s net GST mop-up in September rose about 4% year-on-year to Rs 1.53 lakh crore, the statement said.

($1 = 83.8010 Indian rupees)