Officer Trainees of the 79th Batch of Indian Revenue Service (IT) Call on the Vice-President

Vice President’s Secretariat

Posted On: 13 MAR 2026 7:36PM by PIB Delhi

Officer Trainees of the 79th Batch of the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) called on the Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, at Uprashtrapati Bhavan today.

Addressing the officer trainees, the Vice-President described revenue service officers as guardians of the nation’s financial strength, emphasizing that development activities across the country are possible only because of the revenue generated through taxes. While ensuring that there is no tax evasion, he said officers must also ensure that taxpayers are not subjected to unnecessary inconvenience. Illegal incomes must be identified, he added, while honest and lawful earning should be appreciated.

He noted that despite advancements such as the increasing use of technology in tax administration and payments, some individuals may still attempt to manipulate the system to evade taxes. It is the duty of tax officers, he said, to detect such cases and ensure that the due taxes are paid.

The Vice-President said that India is progressing rapidly, with tremendous wealth being created, infrastructure strengthening, and both rural and urban development advancing. As revenues increase along with economic growth, he observed, the role and responsibility of revenue officers become even more crucial. Describing honest taxpayers as among the country’s greatest patriots, he said they must always be treated with respect.

Referring to India’s rich tradition of good governance, the Vice-President cited the teachings of Kautilya, who advised that taxation should be like the work of honeybees, collecting only the appropriate amount while leaving the flowers fresh. He added that the days of unmindful taxation rates, when personal income was taxed at rates exceeding 90 percent, are long over, and stressed that the tax system must remain transparent, unbiased, and taxpayer-friendly, while firmly addressing tax evasion.

The Vice-President also recalled the words of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, during the inauguration of Seva Teerth, where he stated that “the spirit of service is the soul of India and its true identity.” He noted that Seva Teerth has been named to stand as a sacred place of service to citizens, and urged the officer trainees to follow the guiding principle of “Seva Paramo Dharmah” , service is the highest duty.

Noting that IRS officers will increasingly deal with complex issues such as digital transactions, globalized enterprises, cryptocurrencies and cross-border financial structures, he emphasized the importance of lifelong learning and encouraged the trainees to make full use of the Government’s capacity-building platform, iGOT.

The Vice-President said that IRS officers possess a specialised skill set that makes them an important force in India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat by 2047, adding that the vision of a developed India cannot be achieved by the Government alone and will ultimately be realised through the collective efforts of citizens.

Shri Ravi Agrawal, Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes; Shri Pankaj Kumar Mishra, Member (Administration), CBDT; Ms Anita Sinha, Principal Director General–IT (Training); and Shri Sibichen K. Mathew, Director General, National Academy of Direct Taxes, along with 183 Officer Trainees, including two from the Royal Bhutan Service, were present on the occasion.

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