Over the past decade, India’s salaried class has seen a significant increase in tax liabilities, affecting their ability to save for the future and secure their retirement. Critics argue that the policies implemented by Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the current administration have placed an undue tax burden on middle-income earners, who consistently contribute a large share of India’s tax revenue.
While tax slabs and deductions have seen some adjustments, they often fall short of offsetting inflation and rising living costs, leaving salaried individuals with less disposable income. This has led to growing discontent among middle-class workers, who feel they are shouldering a disproportionate share of the tax burden without seeing corresponding benefits in terms of economic security or public welfare enhancements.
Meanwhile, government spending on large-scale projects and events, such as the G20 summit, national stadiums, statues, and new parliamentary buildings, has drawn scrutiny from both taxpayers and economists. Many argue that while these initiatives may boost national prestige and infrastructure, they divert significant public funds that might otherwise be used to relieve financial pressures on the average taxpayer. Additionally, expenditures on political rallies, foreign visits, and direct cash transfers have fueled criticism that these funds are being used to consolidate political power rather than directly benefit the taxpayers funding them. This perception that public money is being allocated for image-building and political gain, rather than for long-term socio-economic improvements, has led to a sense of dissatisfaction among the salaried class, who are bearing the brunt of the taxation system.
The disparity in tax policy, where sectors such as political parties, MPs’ salaries, sports bodies like the BCCI, and agricultural income remain largely untaxed, adds to the frustration among salaried individuals. They question why their earnings are consistently taxed while these other groups enjoy tax exemptions. This imbalance suggests a need for tax reforms that are more equitable and that address public concerns about fairness. Many argue that taxing a broader range of income streams, including the high earnings of political parties and sports bodies, could potentially ease the burden on salaried taxpayers. Ultimately, India’s tax policy must balance the need for revenue generation with the imperative to create a fair and inclusive system that does not disproportionately burden one segment of society.
While tax slabs and deductions have seen some adjustments, they often fall short of offsetting inflation and rising living costs, leaving salaried individuals with less disposable income. This has led to growing discontent among middle-class workers, who feel they are shouldering a disproportionate share of the tax burden without seeing corresponding benefits in terms of economic security or public welfare enhancements.
Meanwhile, government spending on large-scale projects and events, such as the G20 summit, national stadiums, statues, and new parliamentary buildings, has drawn scrutiny from both taxpayers and economists. Many argue that while these initiatives may boost national prestige and infrastructure, they divert significant public funds that might otherwise be used to relieve financial pressures on the average taxpayer. Additionally, expenditures on political rallies, foreign visits, and direct cash transfers have fueled criticism that these funds are being used to consolidate political power rather than directly benefit the taxpayers funding them. This perception that public money is being allocated for image-building and political gain, rather than for long-term socio-economic improvements, has led to a sense of dissatisfaction among the salaried class, who are bearing the brunt of the taxation system.
The disparity in tax policy, where sectors such as political parties, MPs’ salaries, sports bodies like the BCCI, and agricultural income remain largely untaxed, adds to the frustration among salaried individuals. They question why their earnings are consistently taxed while these other groups enjoy tax exemptions. This imbalance suggests a need for tax reforms that are more equitable and that address public concerns about fairness. Many argue that taxing a broader range of income streams, including the high earnings of political parties and sports bodies, could potentially ease the burden on salaried taxpayers. Ultimately, India’s tax policy must balance the need for revenue generation with the imperative to create a fair and inclusive system that does not disproportionately burden one segment of society.
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