Last year I provided relief to individual taxpayers by enhancing the exemption limit as a move towards DTC rates. Although DTC will not be effective from this year, I propose to introduce the DTC rates for personal income tax. I propose to enhance the exemption limit for the general category of individual taxpayers from `1,80,000 to `2,00,000.

The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that setting up of Infrastructure Debt Fund through public private partnership would meet the long term need of infrastructure sector funding. The Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee said that he is confident that the establishment of Infrastructure Debt Fund through PPP model would be a guiding principle for our future activities. The Finance Minister said that funs to the tune of 1Trillion US$ would be required for Infrastructure Sector Funding in next five years, out of which 50 percent would come from private sector through PPP model.

The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that Aadhaar-Enabled E-payment system would help not only in ensuring the timely payments directly to the intended beneficiaries but would also help in reducing the time taken, transaction costs and the leakages among others. The Finance Minister said that this would also help in bringing transparency in the system and reducing avoidable delays

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today expressed hope that indirect tax collection target of Rs 3.92 lakh crore for the current fiscal will be met despite the economic slowdown.

Inauguration of New Office Buildings ‘Aayakar Bhawan Annexe’, Durgapur and ‘Aayakar Bhawan Poorva’ Kolkata by Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Honorable Finance Minister, Govt. of India on 13.01.2012 and 14.01.2012. Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Honorable Finance Minister, Govt. of India inaugurated the new Office Building ‘Aayakar Bhawan Annexe’ at Durgapur, West Bengal on 13.01.2012 in the august presence of Shri S. C. Jaini, Member, CBDT and Shri D. C. Pant, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (CCA), West Bengal. Other senior officers of the department and of local administration,

The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that the main reason for decline in the GDP growth is slowdown in industrial growth, in particular in investment growth. The Finance Minister said that the negative growth in mining sector along with slowdown in construction sector has also contributed to the decline in GDP growth. The Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee was reacting to the figures of advance estimates of GDP for the year 2011-12 which were released here today, by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO). The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee said though figures of advance estimates for GDP for the current fiscal somewhat look disappointing by our recent growth experience, yet considering the current global context and the slowdown in the domestic industrial sector in particular, the growth performance is not all that surprising.

Come next financial year, the PAN card is likely to become the most potent tool for the Income Tax Department to unearth black money, tax evasion and instances of criminal financing in the country.A recent directive of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to the I-T Dept has asked its officials to launch a special drive against those who have “not furnished their PAN (Permanent Account Number)” while entering into high value transactions.

Calls for 9 percent Plus Growth for a Sustainable Period to achieve the Objective of Inclusive Growth; Industry Asks for Improvement in Outcome of Expenditure on Social Programmes, Widening of Tax Net, Shifting to Accrual Based Budgeting from Cash Based, Acceleration in the Disinvestment Process and Boost in Agricultural Growth among Others.

Faced with a formidable task of collecting Rs 9.32 lakh crore taxes during the fiscal ending March 31, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said he is exerting pressure on revenue officials to improve realisation.

The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that the modern customs administration should function on the principles of transparency, predictability, strong legal processes and productive use of information technology to serve the stake holders efficiently and to enhance the competitiveness of Indian business. The Finance Minister, Shri Mukherjee was addressing the retired and serving officers of Customs and Central Excise, representatives of trade and industry and senior officers of the Ministry of Finance at a function organized, here today to celebrate “50 years of the Customs Act 1962