Whispers Forum

A very peculiar thing in India is that the entrance examinations after class 12th do not examine candidates on what they have been taught. Examinations are pitched at a level of difficulty which is far higher than what the Class 12th student is taught. This creates an uneven playing field because then, those who have the benefit of coaching and tuitions are better off than those who do not. This is sought to be neutralised by candidates by going in for coaching and tuition so almost all students undergo coaching and tuition. This helps only the coaching institutes and tutors.
Vijay Kumar

It is worrisome that in a country of population of 140 crores, approx. 8.1 crores people file income tax returns and less than 4% people pay income tax in real terms. This needs to be analysed. This may be due to fear in the minds of people filing ITR. Fear may be due to excessive regulations, notices, penalties and complicated ITR forms. Earlier, Sahaj Form used to be 2 pages, but now it is more than 20 pages. Even simple dividend income in a year of Rs. 100/ has to be shown in five divided parts of the year. Will dividing it make more than Rs.100/-? Such complications are not user friendly and to be seen in right perspective. All regulations are only for the people who are paying tax and have to face various queries from IT department. The people dealing in cash are not in any financial system and take advantage of earnings. There is a large amount of tax revenue leakage. This may be minimized by restricting cash transactions. There is excess cash in circulations which should be cut. Banning cash transaction more than Rs. 10,000/-. It means any transaction more than Rs.10,000/- has to be in electronic/digital. This will not only reduce tax leakage but also limit the activities which are not permitted by law. It will also reduce the cash which is being seized. We have nearly 18 crores Dmat accounts (both CDSL and NSDL) but only approx. 8.1 crores people filing ITRs. This may also be seen, how to increase the number of tax filers for increasing tax revenue. Cash looks to be one of the main reasons for avoiding paying income tax as they do not come under any tax net. Finance Minister may like to consider the above points for increasing tax revenue and a tax payers friendly environment. We have to reduce the trust deficit between tax administration and tax payers. With regards
Naveen

This order is strange in many ways - technically, it may not be proper as it is beyond the powers of the CIC to venture into any area other than "information" and hence, asking an authority to examine whether an order given by the junior officers was correct appears unusual. However, it is a sort of "justice" based on the limited facts presented on the site. A person trying to misuse the provisions of RTI Act has been shown the mirror. Overall, a really different manner of deciding the case has been employed by the CIC.
Sudipt Bandhopadhyaya

Mirror to reality for the first time in India, that is Bharat, a mirror has been shown to the reality: vegetarian buffet @500. The politicians shout the loudest propagating a veg thali @ 5 and another 14. Today, even one roti can’t be bought for 5/14 rupee. Should it cost so much? The mishandling of vegetable, grain, dal edible oil, salt (the single weapon which destroyed the British Empire) prices have robbed the daily wage earner of a nutritious veg thali. In economic terms, it is 800 a day (rich by the PC criterion of 14 in rural and 28 in urban)! For the new avatar feudal “Lords of Poverty” it matters little: most lunches/dinners are thrown by the ministry concerned and it is a routine affair. No grudges, no grievances, no complaints- everybody needs to eat. People can wait till jobs reach the ”satisfaction” level.
M L Gupta

One digital arrest gang is reported to have the sensitive personal bank data of more than 20000 pensioners! It is facilitated by various irresponsible public authorities because of unnecessary exercise like KYC. I have sent a mail to the RBI citing the instance of a mass mailing letter about KYC the SBI had outsourced to some contractor with whom the letter seems to have remained for several weeks before being sent to me through speed post. I am afraid the post man often opens letters and has the audacity to talks about the contents. But the personal data like account number and other details, in connivance with the bank staff, falls in wrong hands and finally reaches the scammers. Can the RBI not stop forthwith this absurd routine and frequent exercise of KYC? Especially in the Digital India and smart phones? If Jeevan Pramanan can be done on phone, why not KYC? It will save crores of rupees in a futile exercise and also spare the account holder the bother of getting the latest photograph done? Are constructive suggestions welcome?
M L Gupta

Selections for the apex level posts in Department of Revenue of Members of CBDT and CBIC may be made soon. There is every need to have strong profiling and background checks preferably by top investigative agencies on the probable, to check corrupt or incompetent officers from manning these positions.
Vijay Kumar
Sunita Williams deserves a ‘Bharat Ratna’
Sunita Williams, the NASA astronaut and an experienced pilot, returned to planet Earth from space after getting trapped for nine months. It was a test of her mental strength and a magnificent feat achieved by a US citizen of Indian descent. She has made India proud. I appeal to the Government to honour her with Bharat Ratna. It would also be a tribute to the US's advancements in the field of space technology.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)