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Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
NRIs in UAE: Tax officers can now access digital evidence of evasive manoeuvres
Question: I am told that tax officers in India are using digital evidence to detect evasion of taxes both in India and abroad. Does this not violate a citizen's right to privacy? ANSWER: The internal handbook for tax officers has recently been revised whereby investigators are permitted to use data access tools from the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing permitting them to enter the web where tax evaders often trade and chat. User credentials have been created for IT officials to access the web through special software. Currently, taxmen have to deal with an array of digital evidence, especially when it comes to dealing with transactions in virtual digital assets (VDAs). Therefore, steps and procedures have been outlined in the manual for identification and seizure of hardware and locating recovery phrases and QR codes to access private keys. Further, tax officers have been empowered to determine the ownership and location of unaccounted VDAs. If this involves violation of the black money law, Foreign Exchange Management Act or the Money Laundering Act, investigations would be commenced by other enforcement agencies as well under such laws. However, officers have been advised to follow the procedures and directions contained in the digital evidence investigation manual and to ensure that data security is not compromised and the personal data of citizens is protected. Question: With artificial intelligence techniques being applied widely in every sphere of industry, will India's advantage of offering labour at a competitive cost disappear? ANSWER: The advantage is emerging in a different landscape. There is a clear shift in India during the past three years towards high value added work like research and development in global sciences, technology and engineering. This shift is apparent from the fact that more than half of Fortune 500 companies have set up their Global Capability Centres in India. Atleast one GCC was set up in India every week in 2024. The country has about 1,800 GCCs employing close to 2.16 million professionals, recording a compounded annual growth rate of 11 per cent over the past five years. These business units are likely to employ 2.8 million professionals by 2030. Further, these outfits are now shifting to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities where skilled manpower is available and the cost of real estate is 30 per cent to 40 per cent lower than in the metros. The Government of India is going out of its way to provide legislative support and a hassle free administration to ensure that the GCC ecosystem can attain its full potential. Other areas in which GCCs are now concentrating are in the fields of data science and product development. It is therefore expected that the GCCs contribution to the Indian economy will be around $200 billion by 2030 as against $68 billion at present. The primary reason for multinationals setting up these business outfits in India is that the country has 28 per cent of the global technology, science and engineering workforce and 23 per cent of the global software engineering talent. Question: Have government authorities provided any guidelines for appointment of senior managers in financial institutions with a view to ensure that persons of independent stature control the affairs of such institutions? ANSWER: The Securities and Exchange Board of India has laid down regulations and prescribed the process for appointment of key management personnel by market infrastructure institutions (MIIs). To strengthen the governance framework for stock exchanges, clearing corporations and security depositories, the guidelines require that the key management personnel (KMP) of MIIs should be persons of independent stature in crucial areas of operations, such as compliance, risk management, technology and information security. SEBI has mandated that MIIs should appoint an independent external agency which would identify and recommend suitable candidates for appointment as compliance officers, chief regulatory officers and other senior managers. This agency is required to submit its recommendations to the Nomination and Remuneration Committee which in turn would evaluate the recommendations and submit its report for appointment of KMP to the Board of Directors of the MII. The final decision would thereafter be taken by the Board and the same procedure would be followed for reappointment, termination or acceptance of resignation of KMP. The writer is a practising lawyer, specialising in corporate and fiscal laws of India.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Snoop on chatter & dark web, but be mindful of privacy: IT dept tells its sleuths, revises search manual after 17 years
Shoot ' look out circular ' (LOC) to stop someone from fleeing, dip into the dark web, fish for crypto wallets, check taxpayers' credit scores, but don't trample on data privacy rules . There's a slew of directions from the government to Income tax (I-T) officers in a new 'search and seizure manual', an internal handbook that has been revised after 17 years -- a period that has seen the passage of harsh laws, changes in technology, and an explosion of social media. Tax investigators have been encouraged to go beyond the conventional information sources --- use data access tools from the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) to enter the dark web where tax dodgers often trade and chat. User credentials have been created for I-T officials to peep into this murky edge of the web not indexed by search engines and accessed through special software. But they must be careful not to give away their identities while tapping common databases like LinkedIn or Truecaller, says the manual. Taxmen today deal with an array of digital evidence. 'The manual comes at a time when the Supreme Court is deliberating on the need for standard rules governing search and seizure of digital devices. Also, the Madras High Court recently ruled that tax authorities must strictly comply with the procedures set out in their manuals during search and seizure,' said Ashish Karundia, founder of the CA firm Ashish Karundia & Co. NEW LAWS & CHALLENGES Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies pose a unique challenge as it's tough to spot, value and tax virtual digital assets (VDAs), admits the manual. 'So, it outlines steps for identification and seizure of hardware and paper wallets, locating recovery phrases and QR codes to access private keys, checking for involvement in NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and identifying mining rigs and GPUs (graphics processing units) used by crypto miners,' said Harshal Bhuta, partner at P. R. Bhuta & Co, another CA firm. 'While determining the ownership and location of unaccounted VDAs, if violations of other laws (on black money, forex, or money laundering ) are detected, it may trigger investigations under those laws as well,' said Bhuta. Since 2007, when the manual was last revised, laws to curb black money (focussing on secret Swiss bank accounts and other unreported offshore assets) and benami arrangements to control assets through fronts have been enacted. While asking officers -- who are often vilified for their high-pitched demands and intimidating ways -- to avoid a search if there's a wedding or death at the suspect's home, the manual says, 'wherever considered appropriate, Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) under the I-T Act, 1961 or Look Out Circular (LOC) for preventing an individual from leaving the country should be explored, if the person(s) concerned has/ have prima-facie committed a cognisable offence under the Black Money Act, 2015. (BMA)' Many BMA cases are built on information shared by other countries. 'Tax officers have been reminded that information received through international tax treaties must remain confidential and used solely for tax-related matters unless express permission is granted by the concerned foreign authority to share it with other law enforcement bodies. Also, TCC or LOC should be issued with caution and only when there is clear initial evidence of offence under the BMA,' said Karundia. DATA PRIVACY Section 132 of the I-T Act empowers the department to carry out search and seizure actions to collect evidence which increasingly include mobile phones, ipads, and laptops that may hold encrypted data and tax concealment proof. 'Due attention needs to be given to data security and privacy. The officers are advised to follow the procedures and directions contained in the 'Digital Evidence Investigation Manual 2014',' says the manual. Says Supratim Chakraborty, partner at the law firm Khaitan & Co, 'It's good to see that the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (Act) has started finding mention in documents such as these -- though the Act is yet to be brought into force. Although the Act provides certain exemptions for processing of personal data 'in the interest of prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of any offence or contravention of any law', such exemption is not a complete exemption from the applicability of the Act altogether. For example, the I-T Department in its capacity as a data fiduciary (i.e. one who determines the purpose and means of processing of personal data) is required to protect personal data in its possession or under its control by taking reasonable security safeguards to prevent its breach.' The draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules issued in early January 2025 had detailed out certain minimum requirements that should be adhered to for maintaining 'reasonable security safeguards. 'It would be interesting to see how such measures are brought into practice by the I-T Department,' said Chakraborty.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
State begins tech-driven overhaul of health services under
Ranchi: Jharkhand has begun introducing a series of tech-driven reforms in healthcare services aimed at improving accessibility, transparency and efficiency. In this regard, the state-run hospitals are now incorporating QR codes in patient reports, their payments, online medical records, and digital receipt systems. Further, the health department has also rolled out a comprehensive digital initiative to modernise public healthcare under the Mukhyamantri Digital Health Yojana, with the govt approving an estimated outlay of Rs 299.30 crore over five years (2025–26 to 2029–30). Under the scheme, all health institutions are being equipped with high-speed internet, Wi-Fi, enhanced IT hardware like high-end computers, printers, biometric scanners and ABHA card scanners. The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing has been roped in to implement the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) across the state. Additionally, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is responsible for providing Managed Wi-Fi and Internet Leased Line (ILL) services in 562 health institutions under an operating expense model for the next five years. Talking to TOI, additional chief secretary (health) Ajoy Kumar Singh said, "The initiative is designed to make healthcare services more accessible, efficient, affordable and equitable by integrating advanced digital technology. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Emphasising the vision of a welfare state, the scheme aligns with the objectives of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and promotes the use of technology to deliver quality healthcare services, especially in rural and remote areas. " Moreover, a command and control centre equipped with CCTV surveillance will be established at the state headquarters, medical colleges and all district hospitals. A central dashboard integrating health information management, enhanced recovery protocol, combined symptoms and medication score and electronic health records will also be developed for real-time monitoring and policy planning. The scheme sets out multiple objectives such as implementing Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission standards, enabling telemedicine, automating diagnostic services, streamlining hospital operations, and ensuring real-time data management. It also aims to offer 24x7 emergency consultations and digital referrals to higher medical centres. The implementation will follow a structured timeline. Joint secretary Bidyanand Sharma Pankaj said, "In the first year, digital health infrastructure will be installed in all medical colleges and district hospitals. In the second year, the focus will shift to sub-divisional hospitals, community health centres, and primary health centres, while subsequent years will focus on capacity building and maintenance. " Doctors have also expressed support for the initiative, saying technology and AI would significantly assist them in their work. Dr Vijay Mishra, the director at the Bhagwan Mahavir Medica Hospital, said, "Technology and digitisation have already made a big leap in diagnostics, especially in ophthalmology and internal medicine. It helps doctors reach quicker and more accurate conclusions." Dr Gagan Gunjan of the emergency department at Rims, said, "Digitisation is becoming the next big revolution in healthcare just like penicillin once was. From OPD to complex decision-making, it's transforming how we treat and interact with patients." Dr Vivek Kumar David, an orthopaedist at Paras Hospital, said, "Technology combined brings unmatched precision in surgeries. It guides surgical cuts and implant placement better than the human eye ever could." Meanwhile, a total of 54 technical experts and additional staff will be hired through contractual arrangements to augment the state's healthcare. An annual budget of Rs 15 crore has been allocated for human resources and Rs 10 crore for training and awareness for over five years. The state govt has also approved a budget of Rs 4921.28 lakh for IT hardware, Rs 11,711.78 lakh for wifFi infrastructure, Rs 2385.87 lakh for HMIS implementation, Rs 7052.19 lakh for CCTV-based control centres, and Rs 1359.6 lakh for the development and operation of the central monitoring dashboard. Moreover, Ranchi sadar hospital has already implemented a QR code-enabled system under its Laboratory Information and Management System (LIMS), and allows patients to access diagnostic reports online. Each sample vial will carry a QR code linked to patient details, making it possible to download reports from home without revisiting the hospital.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
System to help fin dept make paperless budget approved
Lucknow: The state cabinet approved a proposal to engage the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) to assist the state finance department in adopting the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS). The adoption of the IFMS was recommended by the union minister of Electronics and Information Technology to simplify departmental operations, enhance transparency, and make processes as paperless as possible. Officials stated that once the IFMS is implemented, the process of creating budgets will become simplified and paperless. Instead of manually making and submitting proposals, various departments will be able to do so online. In due course, the department will develop a dashboard to operate a Management Information System. This system will aid in making informed and accurate decisions. It will also include a vendor management system, which will be useful in maintaining a repository of vendors. This can be utilised by other departments as well. Vendors will also be able to track payments for their work through the platform.
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Business Standard
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
How a Chennai-base face recognition firm helped Bihar use mobile voting
FaceTagr, which claims to be in the world's top one per cent in facial recognition technology accuracy, is also being used by defence personnel on the border, besides corporates and airports Shine Jacob Chennai Listen to This Article On June 28, Bihar created history by becoming the first state in India to implement mobile phone-based e-voting during local body elections. This landmark achievement was driven by two mobile voting applications, one each developed by the Bihar State Election Commission (SEC) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Hyderabad, and a facial recognition system provided by Chennai-based tech startup FaceTagr. On Saturday, when polling was held, the company's AI-driven technology helped the Election Commission in reducing bogus and duplicate votes in 489 booths, with 538 candidates. This technology was used both at physical voting booths and
