Collection from securities transaction tax (STT) was up by 43.44 percent and stood at Rs.4,940 crore. Net direct tax collections were up by 7.41 percent and stood at Rs.448,401 crore from Rs.417,477 crore in the like period of last fiscal. Advance tax collections grew by 13.15 percent during the period under review as against the growth of 8.76 percent shown during the corresponding period of last fiscal. Growth in tax deduction at source (TDS) was 7.84 percent from an increase of 16.73 percent in like period of last fiscal. (IANS)