New Delhi, March 21 (BNP): Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday launched ‘PRARAMBH 2026’, a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at educating taxpayers about the upcoming Income Tax Act, 2025.
The multimedia campaign, which will run across print, television, radio, digital and social media platforms, seeks to familiarise citizens with the key features of the new law ahead of its implementation from April 1, 2026.
As part of the initiative, the Minister also inaugurated the upgraded Income Tax Website 2.0, designed to offer improved navigation, enhanced usability, and more efficient service delivery for taxpayers.
Addressing the gathering, Sitharaman said the new Income Tax Act represents a major step towards simplifying tax laws, reducing disputes, and improving voluntary compliance. She noted that, for the first time in independent India, both direct and indirect tax systems are being overhauled simultaneously to create a more citizen-centric framework.
The Minister emphasised that effective implementation of the law is as important as its formulation, urging tax officials to adopt a trust-based and empathetic approach while leveraging technology to minimise human interface.
Highlighting outreach efforts, she said the campaign includes guidance materials such as brochures, tutorial videos, FAQs, and interactive initiatives like quizzes to ensure better understanding among taxpayers. The Department is also focusing on multilingual communication and digital engagement to reach a wider audience.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a human-centric digital era, Sitharaman said the new tax regime should be rooted in ethical governance, accountability, and inclusivity.
Revenue Secretary Arvind Shrivastava said the Income Tax Act, 2025 marks a shift towards a simpler and more user-friendly tax system, supported by capacity-building efforts within the department.
Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Ravi Agrawal, described PRARAMBH as a comprehensive outreach and facilitation initiative aimed at easing compliance through clear communication and digital tools.
The campaign will include over 300 workshops and stakeholder consultations across the country. An AI-enabled chatbot, “Kar Saathi,” has also been introduced to assist taxpayers with queries related to the new law.
Officials said PRARAMBH 2026 marks the beginning of a more transparent, simplified, and technology-driven tax administration system, aligned with the government’s broader push for citizen-centric governance.
