Referring to India’s rise as the fastest growing major economy in the world and pointing out at certain individuals casting doubts over India’s growth trajectory, the Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar remarked, “This is a different Bharat and we are defining global discourse today. There are skeptics outside and inside, trying to occupy public space. My message to them - step out of bubble to experience the environment of hope and possibility.” Dhankhar was addressing the valedictory 76th Batch of the Indian Revenue Service at the National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT) in Nagpur on Monday. Dhankhar also added that such individuals will be enlightened once they get out of that bubble and if they don’t, it is the duty of citizens to burst the bubble. Dhankhar also advised the passing our officers to use counseling and persuasion to instill in people a sense that ‘the surest passage to success is to be tax compliant and law abiding whereas shortcuts will lead to a painful route.’

 

Dhankhar praised increasing digitalisation of tax administration in India. He pointed out, “Transparency measures such as the Faceless E-Assessment system. It has introduced anonymity in tax regime and is living up to its objective of ‘honouring the honest’. A society that honours the honest and does not reward the dishonest is a society that is stable for peace, harmony and growth.” “Technology also discourages the informal handling of cash, which is extremely damaging to society. I would like to laud these steps for bringing unprecedented transparency and accountability within the system now. It is the part of effort of introducing zero-tolerance to corruption in Bharat today. Power corridors have been duly neutralised of corrupt elements and corruption is no longer a passport to opportunity, it is sure passage to jail,” the Vice-President asserted.