Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Friday underscored the critical role of tax policy in mobilising national resources for development, welfare, and infrastructure creation. He made the remarks while addressing the inaugural session of a two-day international conference on “Tax Reforms in India: Challenges and Prospects” at Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla, sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).

Highlighting the historical evolution of India’s tax system since Independence, Governor Shukla noted that major reforms, particularly after liberalisation, sought to simplify processes and enhance transparency. He described schemes such as “Vivad se Vishwas” as reflecting a participatory and trust-based approach to tax administration. The Governor emphasised that taxation is not merely a mechanism for revenue collection but a foundation of accountability, transparency, and trust between the state and its citizens.

Shukla praised the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a historic reform that unified India’s indirect tax regime while strengthening cooperative federalism. He highlighted the link between effective tax administration, economic justice, social inclusion, and good governance, describing GST as a contemporary example of balanced taxation aimed at inclusive and sustainable development. Drawing from Acharya Chanakya’s Arthashastra, he added that taxation should be just, welfare-oriented, and designed to promote production and shared prosperity rather than overburdening citizens.

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Vice-Chancellor Priti Saxena welcomed the Governor and outlined the conference themes. Keynote speaker Nigam Nuggehalli emphasised the need for continuous adaptation of reforms like GST to changing economic conditions, while conference convener Girijesh Shukla highlighted modernisation efforts including digitisation and AI-driven analytics in tax administration.

Earlier in the day, Governor Shukla inaugurated HPNLU’s newly designed litigation lab and a blood donation camp organised by the university’s Youth Red Cross. The event was attended by Captain Rameshwar Singh Thakur, academicians, delegates, and students, among others.

The conference aims to provide a platform for scholars, policymakers, and students to deliberate on the challenges and prospects of tax reforms in India, underscoring the broader connection between taxation, governance, and sustainable development in the country.

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