FM Sitharaman Directs Income Tax Department to Work for Benefit of Common People

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday (July 26, 2026) urged the Income Tax Department to work for the benefit of common people without making them run from pillar to post.

She also publicly expressed her disappointment over the “laidback” nature of government departments, which leads to the illegal occupation or encroachment of government land. She underlined the need for integrity in the conduct of all officials.

Citing the challenges faced by the department in obtaining permission to construct a building in the Nariman Point business district—which she inaugurated on Sunday (July 26)—Ms. Sitharaman said these experiences, despite the officials serving in the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), would have given them an understanding of what the common person goes through.

An IRS officer has the name of the Income Tax Department behind them—a “powerful force to frighten people,” Ms. Sitharaman reminded officials. She added that, despite this authority, officials had to run from pillar to post to obtain clearances from the authorities to proceed with work on the 13-storey building.

“Can this experience incentivise you to understand the position of a common citizen when they approach you? Don’t make them run from pillar to post where your authority is required; do the work for them,” the Finance Minister said.

The Minister clarified that she was not asking officials to break rules or do anything outside the established process for ordinary citizens. However, she expressed concern that people in the country often have to make considerable efforts to secure their rightful claims. CA Sansaar