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Income Tax rate cut to 5 pc for individuals having income between Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh►10 pc surcharge on individual income above Rs 50 lakh and upto Rs 1 cr to make up for Rs 15,000 cr loss of due to cut in personal I-T rate►15 pc surcharge on income above Rs 1 cr to continue►Of 3.7 cr individuals who filed tax returns in 2015-16, 99 lakh showed income below exemption limit►Direct tax collection not commensurate with income and expenditure pattern►Revenue deficit reduced to 2.1 pc from 2.3 pc for 2016-17►Govt pegs fiscal deficit target at 3.2 per cent for 2017-18 and 3 per cent for next year.► Monetary policy to be expansionary in major economies► More steps will be taken to benefit farmers and the weaker sections; budget being presented during weak global economy►Pace of remonetisation has picked up;demonetisation effects will not spill over to next year►Functional autonomy of the railways to be maintained►Demonetisation will help in transfer of resources from tax evaders to government:►Merger of Railways Budget with General Budget brings focus on a multi-modal approach for development of railways, highways and inland water transport►Only transient impact on economy due to demonetisation; long term benefit include higher GDP growth and tax revenue►GDP will be bigger, cleaner after demonetisation►Effects of demonetisation not expected to spill over to the next year, says Finance Minister►Effects of demonetisation not expected to spill over to the next year, says Finance Minister►Govt took two tectonic policy initiatives - passage of GST Bill and demonetisation►Demonetisation was a continuation of series of measures taken by govt in 2 yrs; it is bold and decisive measure►We are seen as engine of global growth; IMF sees India to grow fastest in major economies►36 pc increase in FDI flow; forex reserves at USD 361 billion in January enough to cover 12 months needs►CAD declined from 1 pc last year to 0.3 pc in first half of current fiscal: FM►India has emerged as bright spot in the world: FM►Uncertainty around commodity prices especially oil to have impact on emerging economies: FM►Double digit inflation has been controlled; sluggish growth replaced by high growth; war on blackmoney launched: FM►We have moved from discretionary based administration to policy based administration: FM Jaitley► Agricultural sector is expected to grow at 4.1 per cent this fiscal, says Jaitley►Demonetisation was a bold and decisive strike in a series of measures to arrive at a new norm of bigger, cleaner and real GDP►Committed to double farm income in 5 yrs►Plan, non-plan classification of expenditure done away with in the Budget for 2017-18 to give a holistic picture►Mini labs by qualified local entrepreneurs to be set up for soil testing in all 648 krishi vigyan kendras in the country►Budget presentation advanced to help begin implementation of schemes before onset of monsoon►We will continue the process of economic reform for the benfit of poor►Spend more in rural areas, infra, poverty alleviation, while maintaining fiscal prudence as guiding principle of Budget►Our agenda for next year is to transform, energise and clean India►World Bank expects GDP growth rate at 7.6 pc in FY18 and 7.8 pc in FY19►Allocation under MNREGA increased to 48,000 crore from Rs 38,500 crore. This is highest ever allocation►Rs 9,000 cr higher allocation for payment of sugarcane arrears►Target of agriculture credit fixed at Rs 10 lakh cr in 2017-18►Tax administration honouring the honest is one of the 10 pillars of Budget 2017-18►National Testing agency to conduct all examinations in higher education, freeing CBSE and other agencies►133-km road per day constructred under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana as against 73-km in 2011-14►Govt to set up dairy processing fund of Rs 8,000 crore over three years with initial corpus of Rs 2,000 crore►1 cr households to be brought out of poverty under Antodya Scheme►Participation of women in MNREGA increased to 55 pc from 45 pc in past►Modern law on contract farming will be drafted and circulated to states►Dedicated micro-irrigation fund to be created with a corpus of Rs 5000 crore►Market reforms will be undertaken, states will be asked to denotify perishables from Essential Commodities Act►Space technology to be used for monitoring MNREGA implementation►Sanitation coverage in villages has increased from 42 pc in Oct 2016 to 60 pc, a rise of 18 pc, says FM►We propose to provide safe drinking water to 28,000 arsenic and fluoride affected habitations►To construct one crore houses by 2019 for homeless. PM Awas Yojana allocation raised from Rs 15,000 cr to Rs 23,000 cr►100 pc electrification of villages to be completed by May 2018►27,000 cr on to be spend on PMGSY; 1 cr houses to be completed by 2017-18 for houseless►PM Kaushal Kendras will be extended to 600 districts; 100 international skill centres to be opened to help people get jobs abroad►The allocation for rural agri and allied sector in 2017-18 is record Rs 1,81,223 crore►In higher education, we will undertake reforms in UGC, give autonomy to colleges and institutions►A system of annual learning outcome in schools to be introduced; innovation fund for secondary education to be set up►Two new AIIMS to be set up Jharkhand and Gujarat►New rules regarding medical devices will be devised to reduce their cost► 1.5 lakh health sub centres to be converted to Health Wellness Centres►National Housing Bank will refinance indiviual loans worth Rs 20,000 crore in 2017-18►Rs 500 cr allocated to set up Mahila Shakti Kendras; Allocation raised from Rs 1.56 lakh cr to Rs 1.84 lakh cr for women & child welfare.►Capital and development expenditure pegged at Rs 1.31 lakh cr for railways in 2017-18 from Budget►Allocation for SCs increased from Rs 38,833 cr to Rs 52,393 cr, a rise of 35 per cent►35 pc increase in allocation for SC to Rs 52,393 cr►For senior citizens, Aadhaar based health cards will be issued►Model Shops and Establishment Bill to open up additional opportunities for employment of women► Select airports in tier-II cities to be taken up for operations, development on PPP mode►New metro rail policy to be unveiled►Railway tariffs to be fixed on the basis of cost, social obligation and competition►Service charge on e-tickets booked through IRCTC will be withdrawn►Delhi and Jaipur to have solid waste management plants and five more to be set up later►Government proposes Coach Mitra facility to redress grievances related to rail coaches►500 stations will be differently abled by providing lifts and escalators►Unmanned railway level crossings to be eliminated by 2020►Railway line of 3,500 km will be commissioned in 2017-18 as against 2,800 km in 2016-17►Total allocation for rural, agri and allied sectors for 2017-18 is a record Rs 1,87,223 cr, up 24 per cent from last year►Rs 1 lakh cr corpus for railway safety fund over five years►A scheme for senior citizens to ensure 8 per cent guaranteed returns►Dedicated micro-irrigation fund to be set up by NABARD to achieve mission of Per Drop, More Crop►Digi Gaon will be launched to promote tele-medicine and education►Crude oil strategic reserves to be set up in Odisha and Rajasthan apart from 3 already constructed►Coverage of Fasal Bima Yojana to go up from 30 pc of cropped area to 40 pc in 2017-18 and 50 per cent next year►For transport sector, including railways, road and shipping, government provides Rs 2.41 lakh crore►Allocation of Rs 10,000 cr for Bharat Net project for providing high-speed broadband in FY18►Allocation for national highways stepped up to Rs 64,000 cr from Rs 57,676 cr►Budget allocation for highways stepped up to Rs 64,000 crore in FY18 from Rs 57,676 crore►Dispute resolution in infrastructure projects in PPP mode will be institutionalised►Rs 2,74,114 crore allocated for defence expenditure, excluding pension; This includes Rs 86,000 crore for defence capital►Govt to further liberalise FDI policy►Over 90 per cent of FDI proposls are now processed through automatic route►FIPB will be abolished►Trade Infrastructure Export Scheme to be launched in 2017-18; total allocation for infra at record Rs 3.96 lakh cr►Second phase of solar power development to be taken up with an aim of generating 20,000 MW►After demonetisation on Nov 8 last year, deposit of between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 80 lakh made in 1.09 cr bank accounts at an average of Rs 5.03 lakh till Dec 30►More funds beyond Rs 10,000 cr for recapitalisation of banks will be provided if needed►The shares of railway CPSCs like IRCTC and IRFC to be listed on various stock exchanges►We are largely a tax non-compliant society►New ETF with diverse stocks will be launched in 2017-18►Of 76 lakh individuals who reported income of over Rs 5 lakh, 56 lakh are salaried►Integrated public sector oil major to be created to match global giants►Govt will amend the Multi-state Cooperative Act to protect the poor and gullible investors►Urgent need to protect poor from chit fund schemes, draft bill placed in public domain►Computer emergency response team to be set for cyber security of financial sector► Govt to introduce two new schemes to promote BHIM App - referal bonus for users and cash back for traders►Govt doubles distribution target under Mudra Yojana to Rs 2.44 lakh crore for 2017-18►Over Rs 80 lakh deposits in 1.48 lakh cr at an average of Rs 3.31 cr per account►Customs duty on LNG halved to 2.5 pc►FPI to be exempt from indirect transfer provisions►Political parties can receive donations in cheque, electronic mode; electoral bonds to be issued by RBI►Maximum amount of cash donation a political party can receive will be Rs 2000 from any one source as part of effort to clean political funding►Capital expenditure stepped up by 25.4 pc in FY18 over previous year►Total expenditure in FY18 at Rs 21.47 lakh cr►Duty exempted on various POS machines and iris readers to encourage digital payments►Rs 7,200 cr revenue loss due to reduction in tax on smaller companies►Govt mulling introduction of legal changes to confiscate assets of offenders, including economic offenders, who flee the country►Govt to set up a web-based interactive platform for defence pensioners►Head post offices to issue passports►Govt considering option to amend Negotiable Instruments Act to ensure that holders of dishonoured cheques get payment►FRBM review committee has recommended 60 pc debt to GDP ratio; 0.5 pc of GDP deviation from stipulated fiscal deficit targets►Payment regulatory board to be set up in RBI to regulate electronic payments, replacing Board for Regulation and Supervision in Payments and Settlements System►3 yr period for long-term capital gains tax on immovalble property reduced to 2 years; base year indexation shifted from 1.4.1981 to 1.4.2001►A proposal to receive all government receipts beyond a certain threshold through e-modes under consideration►GST implementation to bring more taxes to Centre and states►No transaction above Rs 3 lakh in cash will be allowed as suggested by SIT►Customs duty on LNG to be reduced from 5 pc to 2.5 pc►To make MSME companies more viable, govt proposes to reduce IT tax with annual turn over of Rs 50 core up to 25 per cent►I-T for smaller cos with turnover of upto Rs 50 cr up to 25 per cent►Not possible to remove MAT levied on advance tax for now; carry forward allowed for 15 yrs instead of 10 yrs►Relaxation in norms for Start Ups for getting tax exemption►Capital gains tax exempted for the land pooled to build new capital of Andhra Pradesh effective from 2.6.2014►Increase in personal tax collections is 34.8 per cent in last three quarters. Demonetisation has played a role►17 pc growth in direct tax revenue for the second year in a row in 2016-17►As against 4.2 crore people working in organised sector, only 1.74 crore individuals filed income tax returns►Solar tempered glass used for manufacture of solar cells/panels exempted from customs duty►Import duty on aluminium ores and concentrates raised to 30 pc from nil presently►Actual revenue loss on tax proposals Rs 22,700 cr; gain from additional resource mobilisation is Rs 2,700 cr►Net revenue loss from direct tax proposals to be about Rs 20,000 cr►Excise duty on pan masala containing tobacco (Gutkha) raised to 12 pc from 10 pc►Excise duty on non-filter cigarettes of length not exceeding 65 mm raised to Rs 311 per thousand from Rs 215 per thousand

DRAFT PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION BILL, 2019HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILLo The Bill regulates the processing of personal data of individuals (data principals) by government and private entities (data fiduciaries) incorporated in India and abroad. Processing is allowed if the individual gives consent, or in a medical emergency, or by the State for providing benefits.o The data principal has several rights with respect to their data, such as seeking correction or seeking access to their data which is stored with the fiduciary.o The fiduciary has certain obligations towards the individual while processing their data, such as notifying them of the nature and purposes of data processing.o The Bill allows exemptions for certain kinds of data processing, such as processing in the interest of national security, for legal proceedings, or for journalistic purposes.o The Bill requires that a serving copy of personal data be stored within the territory of India. Certain critical personal data must be stored solely within the country.o A national-level Data Protection Authority (DPA) is set up under the Bill to supervise and regulate data fiduciaries.KEY ISSUES AND ANALYSISo The data fiduciary needs to inform the DPA of a data breach if it is likely to harm the individual. There may be a conflict of interest while assessing whether a breach is to be reported, as the fiduciary is regulated and evaluated by the DPA on several parameters, including instances of data breaches.o The Bill allows exemptions for purposes such as journalism, research, or legal proceedings. It could be questioned if these meet the standards of necessity and proportionality required for infringements to an individual’s right to privacy.o The State is not required to seek the individual’s consent while providing benefits or services. It is unclear why this exemption is not limited only to the welfare services of the State, as proposed in the Justice Srikrishna Committee Report.o The Bill mandates the storage of a copy of personal data within India to expedite law enforcement’s access to data. This purpose may not be served in some cases, such as when the fiduciary is registered as an entity in a foreign country.o It could be questioned why the DPA can exercise powers, such as arresting and detaining violators of the law in prison, without approval or order of a court.PART A: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILL[1]CONTEXTData protection refers to policies and procedures seeking to minimise intrusion into the privacy of an individual caused by the collection and usage of their personal data. In India, usage of personal data or information of citizens is regulated by the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011, under Section 43A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.[2] The Rules define personal information of an individual as any information which may be used to identify them. They hold the body corporate (who is using the data) liable for compensating the individual, in case of any negligence in maintaining security standards while dealing with the data.Over the years, rapid technological advances have led to large volumes of data being generated through various activities, and increasing reliance of businesses on data-driven decision making.[3] Large-scale collection and usage of data by the government for the provision of State benefits have also been enabled. One example of this is the biometric identification and verification system of Aadhaar that enables the government to ensure targeted delivery of State benefits, such as LPG subsidies.In 2012, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutional validity of Aadhaar on the grounds that it violated an individual’s right to privacy. Following this, in August 2017, a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court declared privacy as a fundamental right of Indian citizens.[4] The Court ruled that the right to privacy is protected by the Constitution as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21. The Court also observed that ‘informational privacy’, or the privacy of personal data and facts, is an essential facet of the right to privacy.Countries around the world have developed comprehensive regulatory frameworks to protect an individual’s rights with respect to the processing of their information.3 A Committee of Experts was set up under the Chairmanship of Justice B. N. Srikrishna in July 2017 to(i) examine various issues related to data protection in India,(ii) recommend methods to address them, and(iii) suggest a draft data protection Bill. [5]The draft Bill was presented to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on July 27, 2018. It seeks to protect the autonomy of individuals with respect to their personal data, specify norms of data processing by entities using personal data, and set up a regulatory body to oversee data processing activities.KEY FEATURESDEFINITIONS:The Bill defines(i) ‘personal data’ as any information which renders an individual identifiable,(ii) data ‘processing’ as any operation, including collection, manipulation, sharing or storage of data,(iii) ‘data principal’ as the individual whose personal data is being processed,(iv) ‘data fiduciary’ as the entity or individual who decides the means and purposes of processing data, and(v) ‘data processor’ as the entity or individual who processes data on behalf of the fiduciary.TERRITORIAL APPLICABILITY:The Bill governs the processing of personal data by(i) both government and private entities incorporated in India, and(ii) entities incorporated overseas if they systematically deal with data principals within the territory of India.The central government may exempt Indian entities exclusively dealing with data principals outside the territory of India by a notification.GROUNDS FOR DATA PROCESSING:The Bill allows data processing by fiduciaries if consent is provided by the individual. However, in certain circumstances, the processing of data may be permitted without the consent of the individual. These include(i) any function of Parliament or state legislature, or if required by the State for providing benefits to the individual,(ii) if required under law or for compliance with any court judgment,(iii) to respond to a medical emergency or a breakdown of public order,(iv) purposes related to employment, such as recruitment, or,(v) for reasonable purposes specified by the Data Protection Authority with regard to activities such as fraud detection, debt recovery, credit scoring, and whistleblowing.SENSITIVE PERSONAL DATA:Sensitive personal data is defined in the Bill to include passwords, financial data, biometric and genetic data, caste, religious or political beliefs. The Bill specifies more stringent grounds for the processing of sensitive personal data, such as seeking the explicit consent of an individual prior to processing.RIGHTS OF THE DATA PRINCIPAL:The Bill sets out certain rights of the data principal whose data is being processed. These include(i) the right to obtain a summary of their personal data held with the data fiduciary,(ii) the right to seek correction of inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated personal data,(iii) the right to have personal data transferred to any other data fiduciary in certain circumstances, and(iv) the right ‘to be forgotten’, which allows the data principal to restrict or prevent continuing disclosure of their personal data.OBLIGATIONS OF THE DATA FIDUCIARY:The Bill lays down certain obligations on the data fiduciary who is processing personal data. These include(i) processing personal data in a fair and reasonable manner,(ii) notifying the data principal of the nature and purposes of data collection, and their rights, among others, and(iii) collecting only as much data as is needed for a specified purpose, and storing it no longer than necessary.EXEMPTIONS: The Bill provides exemptions to certain data processing activities. It states that processing of an individual’s personal data will not be subject to the obligations specified, and the data principal will not have the rights defined in the Bill, if their personal data is processed for the purposes of(i) national security (pursuant to a law),(ii) prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of contraventions to a law,(iii) legal proceedings,(iv) personal or domestic purposes, and(v) journalistic purposes.The only restrictions on data processing for these purposes are those of(i) processing personal data in a fair and reasonable manner, and(ii) ensuring appropriate security safeguards while processing the data.Data processing for research purposes may also be exempted to the extent specified by the Data Protection Authority set up under the Bill. Small entities having a turnover of less than twenty lakh rupees, manually processing data of less than one hundred data principals are also exempt from most provisions of the Bill.DATA PROTECTION AUTHORITY:The Bill provides for the establishment of a Data Protection Authority (DPA). The DPA is empowered to(i) draft specific regulations for all data fiduciaries across different sectors,(ii) supervise and monitor data fiduciaries,(iii) assess compliance with the Bill and initiate enforcement actions, and(iv) receive, handle and redress complaints from data principals.It shall consist of a chairperson and six members, with knowledge of at least ten years in the field of data protection and information technology.The DPA shall have a separate adjudication wing to impose penalties and award compensation. Adjudicating Officers shall be specialists with at least seven years of professional experience in subjects including cyber and constitutional law, and data protection. Orders of the DPA can be appealed to an appellate Tribunal set up by the central government, and appeals from the Tribunal will go to the Supreme Court.CROSS-BORDER STORAGE OF DATA:The Bill states that every fiduciary shall keep a ‘serving copy’ of all personal data in a server or data center located in India. The central government may notify certain categories of personal data as exempt from this requirement on grounds of necessity or strategic interests of the State. The central government may also notify certain categories of personal data as ‘critical personal data’, which may be processed only in servers located in India.TRANSFER OF DATA OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY:Personal data (except sensitive personal data which is ‘critical’) may be transferred outside India under certain circumstances. These include cases where(i) the central government prescribes that transfers to a particular country are permissible, or(ii) the DPA approves the transfer in a situation of necessity.OFFENCES AND PENALTIES:Under the Bill, the DPA may levy penalties on the fiduciary for various contraventions to the law. These include failure to comply with(i) data processing obligations,(ii) directions issued by the DPA, and(iii) cross-border data storage and transfer requirements.For example, the fiduciary has to notify the DPA of any data breach which is likely to cause harm to the principal. Failure to promptly notify the DPA can attract a penalty of the higher of five crore rupees or two percent of the worldwide turnover of the fiduciary.Further, any person who obtains, discloses, transfers, sells or offers to sell personal and sensitive personal data shall be punishable with imprisonment ranging up to five years, or a fine of up to three lakh rupees.PART B: KEY ISSUES AND ANALYSISNO GUIDELINES FOR PROCESSING OF DATA IN A ‘FAIR AND REASONABLE’ MANNERThe Bill defines ‘data principal’ as the individual whose data is being processed. The ‘data fiduciary’ may be a service provider who collects, stores and uses data in the course of providing such goods and services. While processing the data, the fiduciary is obligated to ensure that data is processed ‘in a fair and reasonable manner that respects the privacy of the individual’. Further, the fiduciary has to be able to demonstrate to the Data Protection Authority (DPA) that data has been processed in a fair and reasonable manner. In case of a violation of this provision, the fiduciary is liable to a penalty of four percent of the total worldwide turnover of the fiduciary (subject to a minimum of Rs 15 crore).While the Bill places this obligation on all data fiduciaries, it does not specify any principles or guidelines for what constitutes a ‘fair and reasonable’ manner of personal data processing.The absence of guiding principles could allow fairness and reasonability standards to vary across fiduciaries processing similar types of data; andFiduciaries in the same industry may develop and follow different standards.Further, in the absence of any guidelines, it may be unreasonable to expect the fiduciary to demonstrate compliance. Note that non-compliance with this provision may entail a significant monetary penalty.The Justice Srikrishna Committee Report had suggested that courts of law and regulatory authorities should be allowed to evolve principles of fair and reasonable processing.5 These standards may vary with technological progress over time, and across different data fiduciaries. 5CONFLICT OF INTEREST COULD ARISE FROM OPTIONAL REPORTING OF DATA BREACHESData fiduciaries are regulated by the DPA set up under the Bill, which assesses their compliance with the law and initiates appropriate enforcement actions and penalties. The Bill states that the fiduciary shall inform the DPA in the event of a data breach (i.e., an accidental or unauthorized use or disclosure of data) only if such a breach is likely to cause harm to any data principal. The question is whether the fiduciary should have the discretion to determine whether a data breach needs to be reported to the DPA.Selective reporting of data breaches will avoid the DPA from being burdened with a high volume of low-impact data breach reports, and also not make the burden of reporting too onerous on the fiduciary. However, there may be a conflict of interest while determining whether a breach is to be reported, as the fiduciary is regulated by the DPA. Instances of breaches and promptness of notification are assessed in independent data audits ordered by the DPA. Audit results are summarised into a score, which is public, and influences the perception of a fiduciary’s trustworthiness. Further, fiduciaries have economic interests in downplaying the risk of data breaches, as there have been instances of breaches negatively affecting stock prices of companies.[6]EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF DATA PROCESSING COULD BE QUESTIONEDThe Bill lays down certain obligations on all data fiduciaries for processing the data principal’s information. The fiduciary must provide notice to the principal and take their consent before processing. They may use the data only for specified purposes, and store it with suitable security safeguards for no longer than required.Further, the data principal also has several rights with respect to their data, such as the right to(i) obtain a summary of their personal data held with the fiduciary, and(ii) seek correction of inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated data.However, the above obligations and safeguards do not apply if data is processed for the purposes of(i) national security,(ii) prevention, investigation, and prosecution of violations of a law,(iii) legal proceedings, (iv) personal or domestic purposes, and(v) research and journalistic purposes. The question is whether all exemptions defined in the Bill are warranted.The Supreme Court, in Puttaswamy vs UoI, allowed exceptions to the right to privacy of an individual under certain situations. These include cases where a larger public purpose is satisfied by the infringement of the privacy of an individual. Such an exemption must be backed by a law, and must be necessary for and proportionate to achieving the purpose.From this, it appears that an exemption for national security, pursuant to a law, may be justified.However, it is unclear if exemptions for legal proceedings, or for research and journalistic purposes meet the requirements of necessity and proportionality. Note that the Supreme Court, in deciding the constitutionality of Aadhaar, had declared the provision to link Aadhaar numbers with SIM cards as disproportionate, and thereby unconstitutional.[7]The Bill allows an exemption for the disclosure of personal data for legal proceedings such as(i) enforcing a legal right or claim,(ii) defending any charge, and(iii) obtaining legal advice. It can be questioned whether asking for personal information without a court order becomes permissible per this exemption.Further, it is unclear whether the requirements laid out in Puttaswamy vs UoI are met by the exemptions for research and journalistic purposes.The legitimate aims of these exemptions – that is, permitting journalistic freedom or building scope for research – have to be balanced against preserving the right to privacy of data principals.PROCESSING OF DATA FOR FUNCTIONS OF THE STATE DOES NOT REQUIRE CONSENTThe rationale for not requiring consent for the provision of services and benefits by the State is unclearUnder the Bill, data fiduciaries (including the State) cannot process an individual’s data without their consent. However, the State may process data without consent for certain functions, such as(i) for provision of services and benefits, and(ii) for issuance of certification, licences, and permits.The Justice Srikrishna Committee Report had argued that the validity of consent given by the individual while availing State welfare benefits is questionable, given the imbalance of power between the citizen and the State.5 Thus, data processing for the provision of any service in the nature of welfare benefits should be allowed without the consent of the individual.Further, the Report states that only those government bodies which are performing functions directly related to the provision of welfare benefits or regulatory functions should be allowed non-consensual processing of data.5 While the Report acknowledges that non-consensual processing by government entities for all kinds of public functions may be too wide an exception to consent, the Bill allows non-consensual data processing for all services of the State.5 For example, this would include public sector banks or public sector telecom companies. Private sector counterparts in such sectors would need to obtain the individual’s consent before processing their data.FUNCTIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE REQUIRING NON-CONSENSUAL PROCESSING OF DATA IS UNCLEARThe Bill allows for the processing of an individual’s personal data without their consent if it is necessary for any function of the Parliament or state legislature. It is unclear what functions of the Parliament would necessitate such processing of data without the consent of the individual.STORAGE OF A COPY OF DATA WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF INDIAThe Bill states that every data fiduciary shall keep a ‘serving copy’ of all personal and sensitive personal data in a server in India. The central government may notify certain categories of personal data as exempt from this requirement on grounds of necessity or strategic interests of the State. Also, the government may notify certain ‘critical personal data’ which shall be processed only in servers located in India.THE DEFINITIONS OF ‘SERVING COPY’ AND ‘CRITICAL PERSONAL DATA’ ARE NOT PROVIDEDIt is unclear what is meant by a ‘serving copy’ of data. It could be a live, real-time replication of data on a server within India, or it could be a backup at a specified frequency. The specification is needed, as costs, implications and implementation timelines for fiduciaries would vary significantly with the exact nature of a ‘serving copy’. Further, it may be argued that the broad criteria for classifying data as ‘critical’ needs to be specified in the law, as this is necessary for fiduciaries to prepare for the requirement of storing this data solely in India.BENEFITS OF LOCAL STORAGE OF A COPY OF DATA WITHIN THE COUNTRY ARE UNCLEARThe Justice Srikrishna Committee Report had recognized several benefits of local storage of personal data.5It could simplify and accelerate the process of accessing data by law enforcement agencies for investigation. It could help prevent foreign surveillance of Indian citizens; and boost domestic research in artificial intelligence.However, law enforcement may not necessarily be expedited in some cases where the data fiduciary is registered as an entity in a foreign country. Obligations under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) will continue to apply, as a conflict of law question could arise with the entity being registered in another country.5The Justice Srikrishna Committee Report had noted that the MLAT process is time-consuming, and therefore the objective of expediting law enforcement may not be met by locally storing the data.5Further, some data fiduciaries may be discouraged from investing in India as a market due to additional costs arising from setting up duplicate servers; and hence, consumers may not have the choice of availing services of all data fiduciaries. Additional costs may be passed down to consumers for certain digital services. It may have an adverse impact on smaller data fiduciaries who rely on alternative storage mechanisms that may be cheaper.Note that as per laws in the European Union, Australia and Canada, storage of a copy of data within the country’s territory is not required.3Further, Australian and Canadian laws allow the data user (fiduciary) to independently ascertain whether data may be transferred outside the country.3The Bill necessitates the involvement of the DPA in making this decision, similar to the European Union.A COMPLAINT MAY BE RAISED ONLY IF THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF HARMThe Bill places several restrictions on the processing of data (such as the collection of only as much data as needed for specified purposes, among others), and also provides certain rights to the data principal to take control of their data. However, the data principal may raise a complaint only if a violation of the provisions of the Bill has caused, or may cause them harm. It could be questioned why the mere violation of the rights of the principal is not enough to raise a complaint. The data principal additionally has to demonstrate and prove that harm has been caused to them by unlawful data processing; and this may place an undue burden on the data principal.POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE DATA PROTECTION AUTHORITY (the DPA)Enforcement of penalties and compensation orders of the DPA does not require a court orderThe Bill allows the DPA to impose penalties on data fiduciaries for violation of provisions of the law. Recovery Officers appointed by the DPA shall have the power to enforce penalties and compensation orders of the DPA.The Officers, per the orders of the DPA, may conduct several enforcement actions against the data fiduciary, including(i) attachment or sale of movable and immovable property, and(ii) arrest and detention in prison.The Bill does not specify that a court order would be required for the above enforcement actions. Other Acts allow regulators such as the RBI or the IRDA to take actions such as attachment and sale of property and arrest of persons only after the approval of a court.However, following the Securities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2014, the SEBI Act permits the Recovery Officer of the SEBI to take such actions on the orders of the Board.[8]CREATION OF AN EXCLUSIVE DATA PROTECTION AWARENESS FUND COULD LEAD TO CONFLICT OF INTERESTThe Bill specifies penalties ranging up to fifteen crore rupees or four percent of the fiduciary’s global annual turnover for violation of its provisions. Penalties will be credited to the Data Protection Awareness Fund, and be utilized by the DPA for generating awareness about(i) methods of data anonymization, and(ii) appropriate responses to data breaches, among others.It is unclear why penalties realized under the Bill will not be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India. Creating a separate Data Protection Awareness Fund to be used solely by the DPA could skew the DPA’s incentive to levy higher penalties, and thereby present a conflict of interest while adjudicating disputes and redressing grievances. Acts such as the SEBI Act, 1992 mandate that all sums realized through penalties be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India.[9]However, the PFRDA Act, 2013 establishes the Subscriber Education and Protection Fund to protect the interests of pension fund subscribers. All penalties realized under the Act are credited to this Fund and used solely by the PFRDA.[10]EXERCISING THE ‘RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN’ INVOLVES ADJUDICATION BY AN OFFICER WHO MAY NOT BE COMPETENTUnder the Bill, the data principal can exercise certain rights, such as(i) the right to obtain a summary of their personal data held with the fiduciary,(ii) the right to seek correction of inaccurate personal data, and(iii) the right ‘to be forgotten’, which allows the data principal to restrict or prevent continuing disclosure of their data.The exercise of the right to be forgotten requires the data principal to approach the DPA with a written request.An Adjudicating Officer of the DPA has to determine whether the right to freedom of speech or the right to information of any other citizen could be violated by the exercise of the right to be forgotten by the data principal. Such matters are typically interpreted by courts of law. While one of the eligibility criteria for Adjudicating Officers is knowledge and expertise in constitutional law, the Officer may be an expert in a different field, such as data protection. In such a situation, the Officer may not have the expertise to determine the constitutional question of a possible violation of freedom of speech.COMPARISON OF THE BILL WITH INTERNATIONAL DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY LAWSThere are several provisions in the Bill that differ from standards of data protection and privacy in laws in the European Union, Australia, and Canada. Table 1 outlines some of the provisions which are different.Sources: European Union - The General Data Protection Regulation, 2016; Australia - The Privacy Act, 1988; Canada - The Privacy Act, 1985; The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, 2000; India - The Personal Data Protection (Draft) Bill, 2018; PRS[1]. This Brief has been written on the basis of the Personal Data Protection (Draft) Bill, as presented to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, by the Committee of Experts under the Chairmanship of Justice B. N. Srikrishna, on July 27, 2018.[2]. Information Technology (Reasonable security practices and procedures and sensitive personal data or information) Rules, 2011.Data protection and privacy statutes in various countries: European Union – The General Data Protection Regulation, 2016; Australia – The Privacy Act, 1988; Canada – The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, 2000; The Privacy Act, 1985.[4]. Justice K. S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) and Anr. vs Union of India and Ors, W.P. (C) No. 494 of 2012, August 24, 2017.[5]. “A Free and Fair Digital Economy”, Report of the Committee of Experts under the Chairmanship of Justice B. N. Srikrishna.[6]. In September 2017, Equifax stock prices fell by 18% after they announced a data breach affecting 143 million people.[7]. Justice K. S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) and Anr. vs Union of India and Ors, W.P. (C) No. 494 of 2012, September 26, 2018.[8]. Clause 21, The Securities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2014.[9]. Section 15JA, The Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.[10]. Section 29, The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013.

Guide for e-Filing of Income Tax Return (ITR) OnlineAs per section 139(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 in the country, individuals whose total income during the previous year exceeds the maximum amount not chargeable to tax, should file their income tax returns (ITR).The process of electronically filing income tax returns is known as e-filing. You can either seek professional help or file your returns yourself from the comfort of your home by registering on the income tax department website or other websites. The due date for filing tax returns (physical or online), is July 31st.Who should e-file income tax returns?Online filing of tax returns is easy and can be done by most assessees.Assessee with a total income of Rs.2.5 Lakhs and above.Individual/HUF resident with assets located outside India.An assessee required to furnish a report of audit specified under sections 10(23C) (IV), 10(23C) (v), 10(23C) (VI), 10(23C) (via), 10A, 12A (1) (b), 44AB, 80IA, 80IB, 80IC, 80ID, 80JJAA, 80LA, 92E or 115JB of the Act.Assessee required to give a notice under Section 11(2) (a) to the assessing officer.A firm (which does not come under the provisions of section 44AB), AOP, BOI, Artificial Juridical Person, Cooperative Society and Local Authority (ITR 5).An assessee required to furnish returns U/S 139 (4B) (ITR 7).A resident who has signing authority in any account located outside India.A person who claims relief under sections 90 or 90A or deductions under section 91.All companies.Types of e-Filing:Use Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) to e-file. It is mandatory to file IT forms using Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) by a chartered accountant.If you e-file without DSC, ITR V form is generated, which should then be printed, signed and submitted to CPC, Bangalore by ordinary post or speed post within 120 days from the date of e-filing.You can file e-file IT returns through an E-return Intermediary (ERI) with or without DSC.Checklist for e-Filing IT ReturnsThere are a few prerequisites to filing your tax returns smoothly and effectively. Major points have been highlighted below.How to choose the right form to file your taxes electronicallyIt can be confusing deciding which form to submit when filing your tax returns online. The different categories of Income Tax Return (ITR) forms and who they are meant for are tabulated below.ITR 1 (SAHAJ)Individuals with income from salary and interestITR 2Individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUF) not having income from business or professionITR 3Individuals/HUFs being partners in firms and not carrying out business or profession under any proprietorshipITR 4Individuals and HUFs having income from a proprietary business or professionITR 4S (SUGAM)Individuals/HUF having income from presumptive businessITR 5Firms, AOPs,BOIs and LLPITR 6Companies other than companies claiming exemption under section 11ITR 7Persons including companies required to furnish return under section 139(4A) or section 139(4B) or section 139(4C) or section 139(4D)Check your tax credit - Form 26AS vs. Form 16You should check Form 26AS before filing your returns. It shows the amount of tax deducted from your salary and deposited with the IT department by your employer. You should ensure that the tax deducted from your income as per your Form 16 matches with the figures in Form 26AS. If you file your returns without clarity on errors, you will get a notice from the IT department.Claim 80G, savings certificates and other deductionsYou can claim extra deductions if you forgot to claim them. Similarly, you can also claim deductions under section 80G on donations made to charitable institutions.Interest statement - Interest on savings accounts and fixed depositsA deduction for up to Rs.10,000 is allowed on interest earned on savings accounts. However, interest earned on bank deposits, if any, forms a part of your taxable income and is taxable at applicable slab rates.In addition to the above, have the following at hand.Last year's tax returnsBank statementsTDS (Tax Deducted at Source) certificatesProfit and Loss (P&L) Account Statement, Balance Sheet and Audit Reports, if applicableEnsure your system is equipped with the below.Java Runtime Environment Version 7 Update 6 or aboveList of Required Documents for e-filing of tax returnsIt is always good to stay a step ahead, especially when it comes to tax filing. The checklist provided below will help you to get started with the e-filing of tax returns.General details:Bank account detailsPAN NumberReporting salary income:Rent receipts for claiming HRAForm 16Pay slipsReporting House Property income:Address of the house propertyDetails of the co-owners including their share in the mentioned property and PAN detailsCertificate for home loan interestDate when the construction was completed, in case under construction property was purchasedName of the tenant and the rental income, in case the property is rentedReporting capital gains:Stock trading statement is required along with purchase details if there are capital gains from selling the sharesIn case a house or property is sold, you must sought sale price, purchase price, details of registration and capital gain detailsDetails of mutual fund statement, sale and purchase of equity funds, debt funds, ELSS and SIPsReporting other income:The income from interest is reported. In case of interest accumulated in savings account, bank account statements are requiredInterest income from tax saving bonds and corporate bonds must be reportedThe income details earned from post office deposit must be reportedIncome Tax Slab RatesIncome Tax Slab rates For Financial Year 2017 – 2018 And Assessment Year 2018-2019(As Declared in the New Budget) :For Individuals and HUF (Age – Less than 60 years):Income Tax SlabTax rateUp to Rs.2,50,000NILAbove Rs.2,50,000 and up to Rs.5,00,0005%Above Rs.5,00,000 and up to Rs.10,00,00020%Above Rs.10,00,00030%*10% of tax will be imposed as surcharge in case the total income is between Rs.50 Lakhs and Rs.1 crore.*15% of tax will be imposed as surcharge in case the total income is above Rs.1 crore.For Individuals and HUF (Age – 60 years and more, but less than 80 years):Income Tax SlabTax rateUp to Rs.3,00,000NILAbove Rs.3,00,000 and up to Rs.5,00,0005%Above Rs.5,00,000 and up to Rs.10,00,00020%Above Rs.10,00,00030%*10% of tax will be imposed as surcharge in case the total income is between Rs.50 Lakhs and Rs.1 crore.*15% of tax will be imposed as surcharge in case the total income is above Rs.1 crore.For Super Senior Citizens (age - 80 years and more):Income Tax SlabTax rateUp to Rs.5,00,000NILAbove Rs.5,00,000 and up to Rs.10,00,00020%Above Rs.10,00,00030%*10% of tax will be imposed as surcharge in case the total income is between Rs.50 Lakhs and Rs.1 crore.*15% of tax will be imposed as surcharge in case the total income is above Rs.1 crore.Income Tax Slab Rates for Year 2016 – 2017 :For Individuals and HUF (Age – Less than 60 years):Income Tax SlabTax RateUp to Rs.2,50,000NILAbove Rs.2,50,000 and up to Rs.5,00,00010%Above Rs.5,00,000 and up to Rs.10,00,00020%Above Rs.10,00,00030%*12% surcharge is imposed in case the total income is above Rs.1 crore.For Senior Citizens (Age – 60 years and more, but less than 80 years):Income Tax SlabTax RateUp to Rs.3,00,000NILAbove Rs.3,00,000 and up to Rs.5,00,00010%Above Rs.5,00,000 and up to Rs.10,00,00020%Above Rs.10,00,00030%*12% surcharge is imposed in case the total income is above Rs.1 crore.For Super Senior Citizens (Age - 80 years and more):Income Tax SlabTax RateUp to Rs.5,00,000NILAbove Rs.5,00,000 and up to Rs.10,00,00020%Above Rs.10,00,00030%*12% surcharge is imposed in case the total income is above Rs.1 crore.Income Tax Return Due Date:Generally, the due date for filing Income Tax Return (ITR) for Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)/ Individuals/ AOP (Association of Persons)/ BOI (Body of Individuals) is 31st July of the next Financial Year. For example – The ITR due date for Financial Year 2016-17 would be 31st July, 2017.How do I file e-Returns?Fill income tax returns offline and upload XML on the official website: IncomeTaxIndiaeFiling.gov.inPrepare and submit ITR 1 online.Is your Credit Score good enough for Loan/Credit Card approval? Check in less than 3 min!Check for FREESteps to follow to file Income Tax Returns:Filing your income tax returns online doesn't have to be a complicated process. Simply follow the below steps.First, log on to IncomeTaxIndiaeFiling.gov.in And register on the website.Your Permanent Account Number (PAN) is your user ID.View your tax credit statement or Form 26AS. The TDS as per your Form 16 must tally with the figures in Form 26AS.Click on the income tax return forms and choose the financial year.Download the ITR form applicable to you. If you're exempt income exceeds Rs.5,000, the appropriate form will be ITR-2 (If the applicable form is ITR-1 or ITR 4S, you can complete the process on the portal itself, by using the 'Quick e-file ITR' link - this has been explained below).Open excel utility (the downloaded return preparation software) and fill out the form by entering all details using your Form 16.Check the tax payable amount by clicking the 'calculate tax' tab.Pay tax (if applicable) and fill in the challan details.Confirm all the data provided in the worksheet by clicking the 'validate' tab.Generate an XML file and save it on your desktop.Go to 'upload return' on the portal's panel and upload the saved XML file.A pop-up will be displayed asking you to digitally sign the file. In case you have obtained a digital signature, select'˜Yes'. If you have not got digital signature, choose 'No'.The acknowledgment form, ITR Verification (ITR-V) will be generated which can be downloaded by you.Take a printout of the form ITR-V and sign it in blue inkSend the form by ordinary or speed post to the Income-Tax Department-CPC , Post Bag No. 1 , Electronic City Post Office, Bangalore, 560 100, Karnataka within 120 days of filing your returns online.Steps to file ITR 1 & ITR 4S Online:Prepare and Submit ITR1 / ITR 4S (Sugam) OnlineYou have the option to submit ITR 1/ITR 4S forms by uploading XML or by online submissionLogin to e- Filing applicationGo to 'e File' 'Prepare and Submit ITR Online'Select the Income Tax Return Form ITR 1/ITR 4S and the assessment year.Fill in the details and then click the submit button and choose DSC (Digital Signature Certificate)’ (if available) Click on ‘Submit’.After submission, acknowledgement detail is displayed.Click on the link to view or generate a printout of acknowledgement/ITR V form.To use DSC, you have to register it in the e-filing application. You can do so by logging in on the e-filing website of the IT Department and updating the Profile Settings section. Under Profile Settings, you have to select Register Digital Signature Certificate and download the ITD e-Filing DSC Management Utility. You can use this utility to generate the DSC file.Private portals:You could also make use of several websites to file your income tax returns online. The portals typically charge fees (Rs. 250 to 300) depending on the kinds of service they offer.Things to watch out for while e-filing:If the same mobile number or email address is used for more than four taxpayers, you cannot file returns on the website, unless the required change is done. For instance, in some cases, more than five returns may be filed— yours, wife, mother, mother-in-law and the Hindu undivided family (HUF) of which you are the karta, the executor of a will.If your name mentioned in your bank documents or official statements is even slightly different from the one given in the PAN card, the portal will consider you a different individual. In certain instances, some individuals give their father's name as their 'middle' name in their PAN card, but do not use it for their bank accounts.If a non-resident Indian has to file income tax returns, he will need both an India number and a foreign number.Frequently Asked Questions: e-filing Income Tax ReturnsI file ITR online without an account on the Income Tax e-filing portal?No, You have to create an account on the portal to file your ITR online. It is an easy process'“ you have to register yourself by providing details such as user type (individual, HUF, companies, chartered accountants, agencies or tax deductors), your PAN, first and middle names and surname, date of birth, and fill in the registration form. If you already have an account but have forgotten password, you can generate it through the'˜Forgot Password' option.How many days do I have to verify the Income Tax Return I filed online?You have to either send the ITR-V to CPC, Bangalore, or verify it online through electronic verification code or Aadhaar-linked one-time password, within 120 days of e-filing the return.Can I e-verify my ITR instead of sending a hardcopy to CPC, Bengaluru?Yes. The Income Tax Department now allows you to e-verify ITR through an electronic verification code (EVC) or through a one-time password by linking your PAN and Aadhaar.Can I e-file my return before all my tax payments are done?You can only file your Income Tax Return'“ online or through an agency'“ after all your tax payments for the year are done. The deadline for filing ITR is July 31 of the year after the end of a given assessment year'“ that is, you get 4 months to file ITR. This helps you put your accounts in order and make sure all tax-related payments are sorted.Is it mandatory for me to do the e-filing or can I depute it to someone?You can seek the help of chartered accountants and agencies dedicated to ITR filing. It is wiser not to allow anyone to have your PAN and password in order to prevent any kind of fraud.How to check the status of Income Tax Refund?You can check the status of Income Tax Refund online on the website of the Income Tax Department of India. You can track the refund status after 10 days (from the date the refund was sent to you). To check the status, you have to enter your Permanent Account Number (PAN) and choose the correct Assessment Year.What is HRA ?HRA stands for House Rent Allowance. It refers to the amount of rent you pay for your place of residence. While filing Income Tax, you can claim HRA. You can enjoy tax exemption on HRA up to a certain limit. If you are unable to submit rent receipts to claim HRA exemption, then you can claim it while filing your ITR. If you have paid more than Rs.1,00,000 on rent in a financial year, then you will have to provide the PAN of your house owner/landlord. HRA exemption will be the minimum of the following:Actual HRA received.Actual Rent Paid.Rent Paid – 10% of Basic Salary.50% (metro)/ 40% (non-metro) of Basic http://Salary.To claim HRA exemption in ITR1 (If your employer has not calculated HRA), you have to deduct the HRA exemption amount from your Gross Salary and enter the result in the section ‘Income from Salary/Pension’.What is ITR–V ?If you e-File ITR without using DSC or you e-File through e-Return Intermediary, then ITR-V form will be generated for you. You have to print this form, sign it and submit it to CPC, Bangalore using Speed Post or Ordinary Post only within 120 days, starting from the e-Filing date.Credit Score of 750 = Easy approval on Loans/Credit Card! Check now in less than 3 min!Check for FREENews About E-Filing Tax ReturnITR – 2 Should be Used to Show Income from Salary and Income from Capital GainsAssessees who earn income from capital gains and income from salary will have to file their income tax returns in the form ITR-2 so far as annual year 2017-18 is concerned. Individuals are expected to prepare their income returns offline through the use of ITR-2 utility (JavaExcel) which can be found on the income tax department’s eFiling portal. They will then have to general an xml file before uploading the same on the portal. Only ITR 1 and 4 cancan9 be prepared as well as submitted online. The communication was made through a notice dated July 24, 2017, and is part of the e-governance initiative which aims to facilitate conduct of assessment proceedings in an electronic manner.5th September 2017Last date for tax payment, filing GST returns extended to 25 AugAugust 20 was communicated to be the last date for filing GST returns and paying taxes. However, several firms had reported technical issues at the GST return filing website on Saturday, a day before the deadline. In view of this, the government has extended the deadline for filing tax returns to August 25.The Finance Ministry also reported that it had received requests from States that were recovering from floods for the extension of the deadline. Jammu and Kashmir had also sought more time, as the GST-enabling laws in the state were passed after the actual rollout of the tax regime.The Finance Ministry has requested taxpayers to file their returns well before the deadline, so as to avoid facing any last minute glitches.24th August 2017GST Council receives requests for slash in tax rates post GST implementationThe GST Council is currently flooded with requests for bringing down the tax rates on a variety of products. The Council has stated that such requests have been received for as many as 133 different commodities from several http://stakeholders.At the time of the GST implementation on 1 July 2017, the GST Council had segregated 1,200 products into four slabs, incurring tax at the rates of 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%. However, there has been a lot of dissatisfaction over this demarcation and changes have been sought by many.Some of the requests received by the Council are:Slashing GST on IT products to 12% from the current 18%.Reducing GST on IT hardware from 28% to 18%.GST on helmets to be reduced to 5% from 18%.Tax on textiles to be reduced from 5% to nil.GST on tractors to be slashed to 5% from the current 12%.Tax on granite slabs to be reduced to 18% from 28%.A reduction in tax is sought on packaged drinking water to nil from the current 18%.On motorcycles with engine capacity between 350 cc and 500 cc, the additional 3% cess over and above the 28% tax rate is requested to be removed.The GST on sanitary napkins has been sought to be nullified from the present 12%.The GST Council refers some of these change requests to the fitment committee. Once the fitment committee confirms that there is merit in these demands, the approval will be provided for the changes.23rd August 2017Deadline for Filing Returns Extended by the GovernmentSection 139AA has been introduced by the government this year. Under this section, it is compulsory for individuals to quote their Aadhaar number at the time of filing their returns after the 1st of July, 2017. One of the most common issues faced by the people is linking. For instance, some people have only mentioned their initials in their PAN, but their initials have been expanded in their Aadhaar card. As a result, there will be problems when linking their PAN to their Aadhaar. Other problems faced by the people include applying for Aadhaar. A large number of individuals across the country still do not possess an Aadhaar card. As a result, Aadhaar centres across the country are witnessing people rush to them for instant solutions. Due to such issues, the government has decided to give people some more time to link their PAN and Aadhaar.3rd August 2017IT Return Deadline Extended Till the 5th of AugustThe Government has extended the deadline for the filing of IT returns for FY 2016-17. August 5 has been set as the new deadline. The Twitter handle of the IT department made the official announcement, and cited the reason for the same as the difficulty faced by taxpayers. The tweet read, “In view of the difficulties faced by taxpayers, date for filing of Income Tax Returns for FY 2016-17 has been extended to 5th August, 2017.”"The last date for filing of ITRs remains July 31. There are no plans to extend this deadline. The department has already received over 2 crore returns filed electronically. The department requests taxpayers to file their return in time," an official had said last month. However, considering the difficulties faced by taxpayers in filing their IT returns, the government decided to extend the deadline.1st August 2017E-Filing of Income Tax Verification with Aadhaar OTP, EVC and Net BankingFollowing the completion of e-filing of the tax returns by every taxpayer, the next crucial step will be to electronically verify their returns as well. This is the final step in the process, and also the most important step. Tax returns will not processed by the Income Tax Department if they have not been verified. Returns that were filed electronically will also have to be verified electronically, and there are three ways to get the job done. Individuals can either choose to do so using their Aadhaar number, the electronic verification code, or their net banking account.1st August 2017E-filing the ITR is easier than you thoughtThe Income Tax (IT) Department has made it easy for the taxpayers to carry out e-filing of Income Tax Return (ITR) through their website. If you are a taxpayer looking for e-filing ITR, this is a great alternative compared to the method of sharing your details with a third party such as Chartered Accountants. Now you can visit the IT Department’s website to complete your e-filing with few simple steps. The website provides complete step-by-step guidance in filling in the forms and submitting it. The IT Department has kept the entire process simple for the common man to understand. The ITR forms are currently available on the IT Department’s website./p>18th April 2017Income Tax Department launches e-filing for two ITRsThe Income Tax Department recently launched services to support the e-filing of two types of ITR. ITR-1 (Sahaj) and ITR-4 (Sugam) are enabled for e-filing on the website - https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in. The IT Department has also notified that the other five ITRs will be soon enabled for e-filing. Individuals who are required to complete their e-filing can visit the IT Department’s website to access the services. The e-filing service will be available until the 31st of July. This initiative will help the IT Department in processing more ITRs efficiently.7th April 2017IT department offers e-filing facility through their websiteThe Income Tax (IT) Department has taken a series of steps to boost e-filing for various types of income group. The IT Department is working towards various solutions that will help the taxpayers in making easy tax payments. This initiative will aid the IT Department in reducing tax evasion and also the non-filing of tax. The individuals can take advantage of the e-filing service from the IT Department’s website. Currently, the IT Department accepts e-filing for certain income group, they are also working towards adding more segments soon.5th April 2017Aadhaar will be made mandatory for filing IT return and application of PAN cardThe government has proposed to make Aadhaar mandatory for filing Income Tax (IT) return and for the application of PAN card. This initiative will help the government in issuing PAN card on real-time basis based on the Aadhaar's e-KYC facility. Currently, the initiative is at the initial stage of consideration that has been proposed through an amendment of the Finance Bill. Soon, the individual who wish to file their income tax return or apply for a PAN card will require the furnishing of Aadhaar details.27th March, 2017