Standing firm despite the recent backlash, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the government has taken steps such as demonetisation and implementation of stringent laws against black money and benami property to not only curb corruption, but also increase honest taxpayers’ confidence.

“The government is working to create an environment which shatters the confidence of the corrupt and instils confidence and trust amongst honest taxpayers,” he said at the Rajaswa Gyan Sangam, a two-day conference of tax officials of the Centre and the States.

His comments come at a time when the government is facing questions over the efficacy of the note ban, after the Reserve Bank of India said 99 per cent of the junked notes were returned.

The Prime Minister also asked officials to use data analytics and proactively track and determine undeclared income and wealth.

Inaugurating the conference, he urged officers to keep the tax system friendly with minimum physical interface with taxpayers. The event was attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and senior Ministry officials.

Modi asked for a push to be given to “e-assessment” and anonymity of proceedings using technology, so that vested interests do not impede the course of law, said an official release.

Given the large number of pending cases and huge amounts of revenue locked up in disputes, Modi asked tax officials to resolve them.

Underlining the benefit of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), he said it had increased transparency and widened the tax base.

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