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Transparency in tax matters isn't just administrative reform: Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that economic governance must rest on fairness and transparency.
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FM Nirmala Sitharaman said transparency has a direct link with development.
Written By: ZeeBiz WebTeam
Updated: Tue, Dec 02, 2025
04:30 PM IST
04:30 PM IST
New Delhi, ZeeBiz WebDesk
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday that transparency when it comes to tax matters is not just an administrative reform but rather a key pillar of building a stronger and more equitable society. Speaking at the 18th Global Forum Plenary Meeting in the national capital, she stated that the country's approach to tax transparency is rooted in a larger belief that economic governance must be fair and responsible.
When people and businesses pay their fair share of taxes, and when evasion is strictly checked, countries become more stable and fair, said the Union minister.
Economic governance must rest on fairness and transparency: Nirmala Sitharaman
Fairness and predictability in practice ensures participation, she said, adding that transparency improves taxpayer morale.
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“India's laws against illicit financial flows and undisclosed foreign assets reflect this commitment to fairness... The country's participation in global standards like the exchange of information on request and the automatic exchange of iformation also shows its focus on transparency," she said.
Watch Live: Smt @nsitharaman's address at the 18th Global Forum Plenary Meeting in New Delhi. https://t.co/eI5B3W6MEr
— Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) December 2, 2025
Transparency has direct link with development: FM
Given that public infrastructure, healthcare, education and welfare programmes depend heavily on domestic resources, Sitharaman said transparency has a direct link with development
. When wealth goes untaxed, she said, it widens both revenue and development gaps, especially in developing nations.
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Every rupee or dollar mobilised through transparent systems helps improve lives: Nirmala Sitharaman
Mentioning that over the past decade, the finance minister said that the country's experience highlights improved voluntary compliance, with citizens more willing to follow rules when they know that the system they are in rewards honesty and firmly discourages evasion.
Every rupee or dollar mobilised through transparent systems helps improve lives, she said, stating that transparency should be seen as a foundation for sustainable development and fiscal strength, not merely as a compliance requirement.
This rise in tax morale, added Sitharaman, is the result of simplification, clarity and consistent efforts to build trust, not just enforcement.
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