By TIOL News Service

FARIDABAD, DEC 21, 2013: THE training course of the Indian Revenue Service Officers (Customs & Central Excise) probationers was formally inaugurated by Ms Praveen Mahajan, Chairperson, CBEC on 19.12.2013 at the National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN) Faridabad. Ms J.S. Shantisundharam, Member (Central Excise), Ms Sobha.L.Chary, Member (Customs & P&V) and Kaushal Srivastava, Member (Budget), A.S.Chawla, Police Commissioner, Faridabad and members of the Diplomatic corps graced the occasion.

The 65th batch of 130 probationers representing 24 states from Jammu and Kashmir to Kerala and from Maharashtra to Manipur was a true display of the unity in diversity that India is proud of. Around 25% of the batch consists of lady officers. The batch boasts of 43% doctors and engineers, 17% management and humanities graduates apart from law graduates, C.As and doctorate degree holders. The batch is undoubtedly one of the most qualified to join the service in the recent past.

The Chairperson, Ms Praveen Mahajan painted a canvas of the tax history in India taking the probationers to the Sea Customs Act and explaining the present state of affairs in indirect tax administration. She gave an insight of how the future of indirect taxation would play out given the growing exponential growth in the Indian economy. Drawing on W.B.Yeats and Steve Jobs, Ms Mahajan extolled the officer trainees to be diligent and dedicated during their training. She administered the Oath of Allegiance to the probationers in presence of many of their family members.

Ms Sobha.L.Chary, recalled her training days with nostalgia and stressed upon the importance of perseverance and hard work during training. She called upon the probationers to keep their learning curve growing while simultaneously enjoying their stay at NACEN. ShriKaushalSrivastava, spelt out the challenges that the Department shall face in future and the growing role of technology in tax administration. Dr G.Sreekumar Menon, D.G, NACEN welcomed the probationers to the NACEN family and the IRS fraternity and wished them a bright and prosperous future on their momentous day.

It was only recently that the 87 probationers of 64th Batch of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise) from the NACEN, Faridabad called on the President of India, Shri. Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan. And the President had the following pearls of wisdom for them - job of tax collection is complicated and not easy. He also advised the probationary officers to discharge their responsibilities with sincerity and by creating a conducive atmosphere.