By TIOL News Service

FARIDABAD, OCT 02, 2017: THE Union Minister of Finance, Mr Arun Jaitley, yesterday said that as far as GST is concerned, there is space for improvement eventually once it becomes revenue neutral to think in terms of bigger reforms such as lesser slabs, but for that it has to become revenue neutral plus. The FM said that there are no grey areas in implementation of tax laws. He said that the taxes which are payable have to be paid and which are not payable, then the same are not to be paid. He asked the young IRS officers that in case of doubt, move straight. 

Mr Jaitley was delivering the Valedictory Address at the NACIN Founding Day and Passing-out Ceremony of the 67th Batch of IRS (C&CE) at NACIN in Faridabad yesterday.

The Finance Minister told the Officers that they will get the option of choosing the path of working with dignity, self-respect and honesty from the very beginning of their career. The peer group is the best to judge the performance of an officer, the Minister concluded. 

The 2015 batch of Indian Revenue Service (IRS,C&CE) which has passed-out from the Academy after completing their professional training consisted of 147 officer trainees including 32 women officers. These young officers will be at the helm of administering the GST, India’s biggest tax reform since Independence. 

During the passing-out ceremony, the Finance Minister awarded medals to the five officer trainees who have excelled in different areas of training for their exceptional achievement. Young officer Dr. Farah Zachariah was awarded with the Finance Minister’s gold medal for being the overall best officer trainee. 

Mr Jaitley also unveiled the NACIN Coffee Table Book and Year Book on the occasion. The Coffee Table Book traces the history of the Academy as well as of the Indian Revenue Service. The Finance Minister also felicitated four outstanding Faculty of NACIN for their contribution in the field of training and capacity building. During the ceremony, international capacity building partners of NACIN i.e. WCO, UNEP, UNODC, ADB and others were also felicitated by the Finance Minister. 

On this occasion, a Stall on NACIN’s contribution to GST Outreach & Training was also inaugurated by the Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley. The Chief Guest and other dignitaries also walked down an Exhibit showcasing the past, present and future of the Academy, aptly titled “NACIN Heritage Walk”. 

The event was attended among others by all senior officers of the Central Board of Customs and Central Excise (CBEC).