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CGST Act — 21 Chapter Study & Practice Map

Start with the chapter, then move to the exact section and connected Rule, form, notification, circular, return, rate, portal step and case-law layer.

21 chaptersSections 1–174 + inserted provisions3 SchedulesLaw cut-off: 26 Jul 2026
Current Act map: chapter names and the section inventory are aligned to the current official CGST Act index. Inserted provisions are included; omitted sections remain visible only as historical law.

Find a chapter

Chapter I

Preliminary

Know what the Act covers before applying any GST rule.

Sections 1–2 · 2 section pages
Chapter II

Administration

Identify the proper officer, jurisdiction and delegation before acting on a notice or order.

Sections 3–6 · 4 section pages
Chapter III

Levy and Collection of Tax

Decide whether there is a taxable supply, who pays, and whether composition, exemption or non-recovery applies.

Sections 7–11A · 6 section pages
Chapter IV

Time and Value of Supply

Fix the tax point and taxable value before calculating GST.

Sections 12–15 · 4 section pages
Chapter V

Input Tax Credit

Turn purchase-side GST into defensible credit, not merely a ledger balance.

Sections 16–21 · 6 section pages
Chapter VI

Registration

Determine who must register, when, where and how registration can be amended, cancelled or revived.

Sections 22–30 · 9 section pages
Chapter VII

Tax Invoice, Credit and Debit Notes

Get the tax document right before it becomes a return, e-invoice or ITC problem.

Sections 31–34 · 5 section pages
Chapter VIII

Accounts and Records

Build the evidence file that supports returns, ITC, valuation and litigation.

Sections 35–36 · 2 section pages
Chapter IX

Returns

Convert invoices and ITC data into consistent statutory returns and reconciliations.

Sections 37–48 · 13 section pages
Chapter X

Payment of Tax

Control cash ledger, credit ledger, interest, TDS/TCS and utilisation order.

Sections 49–53A · 8 section pages
Chapter XI

Refunds

Move from refund eligibility to a complete evidence-backed claim and follow-up trail.

Sections 54–58 · 5 section pages
Chapter XII

Assessment

Understand self-assessment, scrutiny and best-judgment/summary assessment before replying.

Sections 59–64 · 6 section pages
Chapter XIII

Audit

Prepare for departmental or special audit with reconciled books, returns and source evidence.

Sections 65–66 · 2 section pages
Chapter XIV

Inspection, Search, Seizure and Arrest

Respond to enforcement with authority, evidence and chronology controls.

Sections 67–72 · 6 section pages
Chapter XV

Demands and Recovery

Choose the correct demand regime by financial year, then control notice, limitation, payment and recovery risk.

Sections 73–84 · 13 section pages
Chapter XVI

Liability to Pay in Certain Cases

Identify who carries GST liabilities when businesses, firms, companies or persons change form or control.

Sections 85–94 · 10 section pages
Chapter XVII

Advance Ruling

Use advance ruling only after checking scope, jurisdiction, facts and the limits of binding effect.

Sections 95–106 · 15 section pages
Chapter XVIII

Appeals and Revision

Navigate first appeal, revision, GSTAT, High Court and Supreme Court with limitation and pre-deposit controls.

Sections 107–121 · 15 section pages
Chapter XIX

Offences and Penalties

Separate civil penalty, detention/confiscation and prosecution exposure before deciding the response.

Sections 122–138 · 20 section pages
Chapter XX

Transitional Provisions

Use transitional law only for the period and migration issue it was designed to govern.

Sections 139–142 · 4 section pages
Chapter XXI

Miscellaneous

Connect job work, portal powers, information, special procedures, service of notices and saving provisions.

Sections 143–174 · 35 section pages

How to use the chapter map

1. Identify the chapter

Start from the legal issue, not from a return/form name.

2. Open the exact section

Check the current provision status and effective date.

3. Trace subordinate law

Read linked Rules, forms, notifications, circulars and portal implementation.

4. Apply to evidence

Use examples and checklists only after the controlling legal tests are clear.

Official-source control

The India Code listing currently shows the CGST Act in 21 chapters from Preliminary through Miscellaneous and includes the inserted provisions reflected in this map.