President Murmu meets IRS officer trainees, highlights role of direct taxes in nation

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday interacted with officer trainees of the 79th batch of the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, emphasising the crucial role of direct taxes in driving national development and inclusive growth.

During the interaction, the President said that direct taxes provide a stable source of revenue that enables governments to invest in key sectors such as infrastructure, education, healthcare and social welfare. She noted that a fair and transparent tax system strengthens equity and supports sustainable economic growth.

The officer trainees, including two participants from the Royal Bhutan Service, are currently undergoing induction training at the National Academy of Direct Taxes in Nagpur.

Addressing the young officers, the President said the responsibilities of the Indian Revenue Service extend beyond tax collection. She said IRS officers play a critical role in analysing complex financial transactions, tracing illicit financial flows across borders and examining intricate corporate structures.

“These capabilities make IRS officers indispensable partners in advancing the country’s journey towards the goal of Viksit Bharat,” she said.

President Murmu highlighted that India’s tax administration is evolving rapidly due to increasing industrialisation, digitisation, formalisation and urbanisation of the economy. She noted that with growing cross-border transactions and international cooperation in taxation, IRS officers will also play an important role in strengthening global tax governance and maintaining India’s credibility in international tax administration.

The President also pointed to the significant growth in India’s direct tax collections in recent years, attributing it to improved systems, economic formalisation and growing trust between taxpayers and the government.

She appreciated reforms undertaken by the Income Tax Department, including simplified tax frameworks, faceless administration, enhanced pre-filled returns and the Annual Information Statement, which aim to improve transparency and taxpayer convenience.

Referring to the department’s Non-Intrusive Usage of Data to Guide and Enable (NUDGE) initiative, the President said the approach promotes voluntary compliance by using data-driven insights rather than coercive action, thereby reducing unnecessary litigation and strengthening trust in the tax system.

President Murmu also urged the trainees to leverage artificial intelligence, data mining and risk-based verification systems to make tax administration more transparent, fair and citizen-centric.

She noted that the trainees would be the first batch to study and implement the Income Tax Act, 2025 during their training and in their future assignments.

Advising the officers on their professional responsibilities, the President said tax administrators must balance enforcement with facilitation, authority with humility and technology with human sensitivity.

Expressing confidence in the trainees, President Murmu said their dedication, integrity and commitment to constitutional values would play a key role in strengthening public trust and supporting India’s development journey.