Lucknow: A Mega Event marking the launch of awareness campaigns on the new Income Tax Act, 2025 in Uttar Pradesh (East) was successfully organised today in Lucknow, following the culmination of PRARAMBH 2026 (Policy Reform and Responsible Action for Mission Viksit Bharat), a flagship initiative of the Income Tax Department aimed at nationwide outreach.
The event was inaugurated by Prasenjit Singh, Member (Legislation), Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), in the presence of Aparna M. Agarwal, Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, UP (East), along with senior officers of the Department. The programme witnessed participation from key stakeholders, including representatives of professional bodies, trade associations, industry organisations, tax practitioners, and taxpayers.
The initiative is aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Reform, Perform, Transform and Inform” and reflects the Government’s commitment to fostering a transparent, efficient, and taxpayer-friendly system.
Addressing the gathering, Prasenjit Singh highlighted that the Income Tax Act, 2025, along with the Income Tax Rules, 2026 and Finance Bill, 2026, represents a paradigm shift from “complexity-by-default” to “simplicity-by-design”. He emphasised that the new framework is built on the pillars of simplicity, clarity, and certainty.
He noted that structural rationalisation has significantly reduced complexity, with sections brought down from 819 to 536, rules from 511 to 333, and forms from 399 to 190, without altering the core legislative intent. Provisions have been reorganised into category-based schedules for improved accessibility. Key reforms include decriminalisation, rationalised penalties, updated return mechanisms, FAST-DS 2026, composite assessment orders, Safe Harbour Rules, enhanced litigation management, and improved taxpayer services through smart forms, auto-filling, real-time validation, and API-based systems.
Singh underlined that the objective is to minimise disputes, enhance voluntary compliance, and promote trust-based governance by enabling taxpayers to shift from manual data entry to simplified verification processes.
The programme featured structured presentations on key provisions of the new Act, redesigned forms, and explanatory materials to ensure clarity in both conceptual understanding and practical application. A teaser video on the new Act was also screened and appreciated for its effective communication.
Digital outreach tools formed an integral part of the campaign, including QR code-enabled access to brochures, Kar Setu (bridging the old and new Act), Samvaad session videos, an animated series “Madhukar Explains”, AI chatbot “Kar Saathi”, and a feedback mechanism to facilitate continuous engagement.
Interactive sessions were held for experience-sharing and feedback, allowing stakeholders to provide valuable inputs and suggestions. The contribution of domain experts and participants was acknowledged as instrumental in strengthening awareness and understanding of the new legislative framework.
*As part of the outreach programme, a series of physical awareness events will be conducted across Uttar Pradesh (East), including in Unnao and Gorakhpur on April 29, Faizabad and Pilibhit on April 30, Allahabad and Lucknow on April 28, Varanasi on April 29, Barabanki on May 6, Bareilly on May 5, and additional programmes in Varanasi, Lucknow, Allahabad and Bareilly scheduled through May and early June 2026 under various Income Tax offices, ensuring wider dissemination and stakeholder engagement across the region.*
The event concluded with an emphasis on sustained outreach, with similar programmes scheduled across multiple locations in Uttar Pradesh (East) in the coming weeks to ensure wider dissemination and effective implementation of the Income Tax Act, 2025.
