Bibek Debroy Death: Well-known economist and Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Committee (PMEAC) Bibek Debroy passed away on Friday, November 1, 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a great scholar and said that he is saddened by his demise. Bibek Debroy has held senior positions in the government since the Modi government came to power in 2014. He has also chaired committees related to railways and infrastructure. But Bibek Debroy has also been associated with controversies. Through his statements, he has pushed the Modi government on the backfoot many times and the government has also had to distance itself from his statements.
Was in favor of collecting tax on agricultural income
In the year 2017, Bibek Debroy had also proposed to impose income tax on agricultural income so that the number of taxpayers in the country could be increased. In India, there is no income tax on income from agriculture. But while holding the post of permanent member in NITI Aayog, Bibek Debroy had advocated charging tax on agricultural income beyond a limit. His statement caused great embarrassment to the government. Then the then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had to come forward to give clarification. He said, the government has no intention of collecting income tax on the income from agriculture.
Bibek Debroy was in favor of the new constitution!
Even in the month of August 2023, due to an article by Bibek Debroy in a newspaper, the Modi government was deeply embarrassed and the result was that the Modi government remained away from getting majority on its own in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Bibek Debroy in his article laid emphasis on making a new constitution. Due to this article of his, the opposition opened a front against the government. The Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Committee had to distance itself from this statement of its Chairman. The Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Committee had to say that this is the personal opinion of Bibek Debroy and the committee has nothing to do with it.
The opposition said, the Constitution is in danger!
The opposition made the statement of some BJP leaders including Bibek Debroy about changing the Constitution a big issue in the Lok Sabha elections. The opposition had then accused BJP and Modi government of changing the Constitution and said that the Constitution is in danger. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi used to address election rallies with the Constitution book in his hands. The result was that BJP remained far away from gaining majority on its own in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Was against deduction and exemption in income tax!
Bibek Debroy had a different view regarding income tax exemption. According to him, due to the benefits of deductions and exemptions being given to taxpayers, income tax is not being simplified. According to Bibek Debroy, money is needed to create infrastructure and provide goods and services in the country. Due to deductions and tax exemptions, the government’s revenue is not increasing through taxes. He said that because of this someone will have to pay tax. However, Vivek Debroy had called his statement a personal opinion.
Was in favor of one GST rate
Bibek Debroy was in favor of imposing one GST rate (Goods And Services Tax Rates). He believed that the government was incurring losses due to different rates of GST. At present, there are four slabs of GST rates in which GST is charged at the rates of 5 percent, 12 percent, 18 percent, 28 percent. He said that the ideal GST is where there is a single GST rate.
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Bibek Debroy Death: Bibek Debroy is no more, was the chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Committee, PM Modi called him a ‘great scholar’
