PM Modi outlines RAPID, a five-point charter for tax administrators at the Rajasva Gyan Sangam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 16 June 2016 outlined RAPID, a five-point charter for tax administrators to reform and to expand the net base of the direct tax. He announced it during the inauguration of Rajasva Gyan Sangam in New Delhi.

The Prime Minister outlined the RAPID as

R - Revenue,

A - Accountability,

P - Probity,

I – Information

D - Digitization.

Salient Features of RAPID

• It will help to focus on digitization, voluntary tax compliance, facilitation for taxpayers, increasing the tax base, upgradation of digital and physical infrastructure for tax administrators etc.

• It seeks to bring reform to India’s old and redundant revenue administration.

• It makes the tax system accessible and easier for the tax payers. Besides, it also makes it difficult to the defaulters.

• The need of economic reforms in the revenue sector to enhance the respect for the law of the land amongst common citizens is also considered.

Rajasva Gyan Sangam

• This is the first time that the two revenue boards the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), and the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), are holding a simultaneous conference.

• It is a national conference that helps to assess the performance of the previous year and deliberate on emerging issues without any hierarchical barriers.

• During the conference, PM Modi stressed on the need for tax administrators to engender trust in the system and demonstrate the leadership to bring about a change in taxing system.

• He also urged the officers to turn the Gyan Sangam into a Karma Sangam, so that the ideas generated from this conference lead to concrete action on the ground.

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