Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman presided over the 166th Income Tax Day celebrations organized by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in New Delhi. Marking the occasion, the Finance Minister unveiled a new mascot for the Income Tax Department named “Madhukar”, symbolizing the department’s vision of taxpayer facilitation and trust.
The event was graced by the presence of Union Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, Secretary (Revenue) Shri Arvind Shrivastava, CBDT Chairman Shri Ravi Agrawal, members of the Board, and senior officers of the Ministry of Finance and Government of India.
In her address, Smt. Sitharaman extended heartfelt wishes to the Income Tax Department and applauded the team’s efforts in efficiently drafting the New Income Tax Bill, 2025, using simplified language to enhance clarity and taxpayer-centricity. She noted that these reforms make the law more accessible and reduce the scope for misinterpretation.
The Finance Minister highlighted a series of transformative reforms undertaken by the department over the past five years, including:
Introduction of the Faceless Assessment System to ensure transparency
Launch of the Taxpayer Charter to safeguard taxpayer rights
Use of pre-filled returns for ease and quicker refunds
Implementation of the Vivad se Vishwas Scheme to resolve tax disputes
Deployment of data analytics and nudge campaigns to improve compliance
She urged the department to focus on key priorities, including the disposal of pending disputes, withdrawal of low-value appeals, timely refunds, and grievance resolution based on root cause analysis.
Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, in his remarks, emphasized the government’s commitment to creating a tax regime that is simple, certain, and facilitative. He praised the department’s shift from enforcement-driven actions to technology-backed facilitation and congratulated them on the New Income Tax Bill, which aims to make tax laws accessible to the common citizen.
Secretary Revenue Shri Arvind Shrivastava commended the department’s decade-long journey from a rule-bound system to a platform-driven public service institution. He stressed the future role of advanced analytics, smart grievance handling, and nudge-based enforcement to improve taxpayer compliance.
CBDT Chairman Shri Ravi Agrawal, in his welcome address, underscored the department’s use of data-driven systems and the PRUDENT approach—Professional, Responsive, Upgrading, Diligent, Empathetic, Non-intrusive, and Technology-driven—as a framework for future excellence.
Mascot “Madhukar,” unveiled by the Finance Minister, reflects the department’s friendly image and commitment to serve with empathy. Certificates for meritorious and exceptional service were awarded, and winners of the All-India Mascot Design Competition on the MyGov Portal were recognized.
A film showcasing the technological evolution of the department was screened, and the pledge of commitment to integrity and transparency was administered by Shri Pankaj Kumar Mishra, Member (Administration and TPS&R), CBDT.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Smt. Ritu Singh Sharma, Additional Director General (PR, Publications & Publicity), CBDT.
