The National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT) in Nagpur, the premier training institute for the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), has ushered in a new cohort of officers. The 79th batch, inducted in a ceremony presided over by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) K Sanjay Murthy, marks the beginning of a prestigious career for over 60 young probationers.
A Launchpad for Future Tax Commissioners
Out of the 182 young probationers who joined the academy, more than 60 secured their position as IRS officers by cracking the highly competitive UPSC examinations. For these officers, NADT serves as the foundational alma mater, much like the Indian Military Academy (IMA) is for the armed forces. Upon successful completion of their training at this premier institute, they will receive their first posting as Assistant Commissioners of Income Tax.
Diversity and Demographics of the New Batch
The newly inducted batch presents a vibrant tapestry of India's talent. The youngest officer is 23-year-old Ishema V from Kerala, who cleared the examination on her very first attempt. The batch also includes two officers from the Kingdom of Bhutan, highlighting the academy's international reach.
As per the demographic breakdown provided by NADT, the average age of the officers is 28 years. The batch boasts a strong technical background, with nearly 50% being engineers. However, diversity in academic disciplines is evident:
- 26% have a background in humanities.
- The batch includes 9 doctors, 6 law graduates, 20 science graduates, and 8 from commerce or business management streams.
- Forty-seven officers hold postgraduate degrees, and 2 have doctorates.
Significantly, for 54% of the batch members, this is their first job. The remaining officers transitioned from roles in central and state governments, multinational corporations, and public sector undertakings. In terms of regional representation, Uttar Pradesh contributed the highest number with 35 officers, followed by Rajasthan (20), and Maharashtra and Kerala with 16 officers each.
CAG Reviews Audit and Accounts Functions
During his visit to Nagpur, CAG K Sanjay Murthy also reviewed the functioning of the office of the Accountant General (Accounts & Entitlement)-II. The office, headed by IAAS officer Suhasini Gotmare, who also oversees the Accountant General (Audit) office, underwent a thorough assessment.
The CAG reviewed the operations of both audit and accounts offices, as well as the training institute of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD). A key focus area was the digitisation of pension cases. He held detailed discussions with senior officers from the Accountant General (Audit), Accountant General (A&E), and the Regional Capacity Building and Knowledge Institute (RCBKI). The visit concluded with a meeting with executive committee members of all service associations.
The course at NADT for this historic 79th batch will be directed by Salil Bijur, with Akhil Goel and Seema Pramod serving as assistant course directors.
