CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The task force, headed by CBDT member Akhilesh Ranjan, constituted by the Union government for drafting the new Direct Tax Code (DTC) has recently submitted its report to Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman. The task force was constituted to replace the 6-decades-old Income Tax Act 1961.

Detailed explanation-2: -Background. The Task Force, initially headed by former CBDT Member (Legislation) Arbind Modi and later on by Akhilesh Ranjan, was constituted in November 2017 in order to review the Income-tax Act and to draft a new Direct Tax Law.

Detailed explanation-3: -Through Direct Taxes Code (DTC), the government aims to simplify the structure of direct tax laws in India into a single legislation. The DTC will replace the Income-tax Act, 1961, and other direct tax legislation like the Wealth Tax Act, 1957.

Detailed explanation-4: -The CBDT is a part of Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance. On one hand, CBDT provides essential inputs for policy and planning of direct taxes in India,at the same time it is also responsible for administration of direct tax laws through the Income Tax Department.

Detailed explanation-5: -The government published a discussion paper on Direct Tax Code in 2009 and issued the Direct Tax Code (DTC) bill in parliament in 2010. Like all technical bills, this bill too was referred to the standing committee on finance headed by Mr Yashwant Sinha.