E-way bills drop to 5-mth low after festive peak

The decline suggests biz may be taking a pause after months of inventory clearance

- Gireesh Chandra Prasad

NEW DELHI: The issuance of electronic permits, or e-way bills, required for the shipment of goods within and across states, fell to a five-month low in November following a record high in October, according to official data. The decline suggests businesses may be taking a pause after months of inventory clearance.

In November, businesses generated 10.18 crore e-way bills, a notable drop from October's historic 11.72 crore. However, this marks a significant improvement over the 8.75 crore bills issued in November 2022, according to data from the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN).

The surge in e-way bill generation from July through October was driven by the festival season, which typically ramps up in August and September. November's decline reflects a cooling off after this seasonal spike.