Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Presides Over 166th Income Tax Day Celebrations in New Delhi.
National
On 25 July 2025, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman presided over the 166th Income Tax Day celebrations, organized by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) at New Delhi. The event recognized the Department’s journey from manual processes to AI-driven tax administration, underscoring major achievements in taxpayer services and voluntary compliance.
- During the ceremony, Sitharaman honored outstanding Income Tax officers for their decades-long contributions—particularly Chief Commissioner Surbhi Ahluwalia, who pioneered CBDT’s structured social media engagement, and Chief Commissioner Anurag Sahai, instrumental in setting up the Central Processing Centre in Bengaluru.
- Her address highlighted the Income Tax Department’s transition to technology-led systems —from faceless assessments and e-filing to AI analytics—credited with achieving the highest-ever tax collections without raising tax rates.
- Finance Minister emphasized the department’s focus on three pillars: Return processing, Refund issuance, and Redressal of grievances—a framework aimed at improving taxpayer experience and building trust in the tax system.
Main Point :- (i) Nirmala Sitharaman commended the nudge campaign initiative by CBDT, designed to boost voluntary disclosures concerning foreign assets. The campaign earned recognition for its success in enhancing compliance without coercion.
(ii) The event was attended by key dignitaries, including Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra, CBDT Chairman Ravi Agrawal, and other senior officials of the Department.
(iii) Union Minister lauded first-time taxpayers, noting that 58.57 lakh individuals filed returns for the first time in Assessment Year 2024‑25, signalling a growing formalisation of India’s economy and enhanced voluntary participation.
About Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
Minister of Finance : Nirmala Sitharaman
Headquarters: New Delhi
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