GST compensation due to state governments for this year - around Rs. 20,000 crore - will be released tonight, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Monday after a marathon meeting of the 42nd GST Council. The Council, however, failed to provide a consensus on mode of repayment of total compensation - around Rs. 97,000 crore (rising to Rs. 2.35 lakh crore including Covid-related relief). A decision on this matter has been deferred till the next meeting on October 12.