Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Friday said that tax policy plays a crucial role in mobilising national resources for development, welfare and the creation of infrastructure.
While addressing the inaugural session of a two-day international conference themed “Tax Reforms in India: Challenges and Prospects,” sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) at Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla, he remarked that an effective tax system formed the bedrock of economic justice, social inclusion and good governance, describing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a historic reform that unified India’s indirect tax regime and strengthened cooperative federalism. He stated that taxation was not merely a tool for revenue collection but a foundation of trust, accountability and transparency between the state and its citizens.
Tracing the evolution of India’s tax system since Independence, the Governor noted that major reforms, particularly after liberalisation, aimed at simplifying and enhancing transparency in the tax framework. Schemes like “Vivad se Vishwas,” he said, reflected a participatory and trust-based approach to tax administration.
He underlined that tax reform was deeply linked with economics, governance and public policy and appreciated the active engagement of scholars and students in deliberating on these critical issues.
Referring to Acharya Chanakya’s Arthashastra, he said taxation should be just, balanced and welfare-oriented, ensuring that it promotes production and shared prosperity rather than burdening citizens. He described GST as a contemporary example of such balanced reform aimed at inclusive and sustainable development.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Priti Saxena welcomed the Governor and outlined the conference themes. Keynote speaker Prof. Nigam Nuggehalli, Professor and Registrar, NLSIU Bengaluru, emphasised the need for continuous adaptation of tax reforms like GST to evolving economic realities. Conference Convener Prof. Girijesh Shukla highlighted modernisation efforts, including digitisation and AI-driven analytics in tax administration.
Earlier, the Governor inaugurated the newly designed HPNLU litigation lab and a blood donation camp organised by the Youth Red Cross of the University. Captain Rameshwar Singh Thakur, Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission, academicians, delegates and students were present on the occasion, among others.
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