TEN CRITICAL QUESTIONS ON CURRENT GEOPLOITICAL AND NATIONAL ISSUES – 198

PRERNA FOR IAS

(ASSOCIATE OF SAMKALP)

TEN CRITICAL QUESTIONS ON CURRENT GEOPLOITICAL AND NATIONAL ISSUES – 198

Q1. Can India become a global economic power without reforming its tax administration?

Answer: Sir/Ma'am, I believe tax administration is as important as tax rates for economic development. The reported GST reforms aim to simplify procedures, speed up refunds and reduce excessive criminal enforcement. Complex procedures particularly hurt small businesses because they increase compliance costs and block working capital. However, simplifying taxation should not weaken action against deliberate fraud. India needs risk-based enforcement, transparent procedures, digital audits and quick dispute resolution.

My view is that a successful tax system should make compliance easy and evasion difficult. Such a system can improve investment, encourage formalisation and strengthen trust between businesses and government.

Q2. How should India balance freedom of religion with the prevention of forced religious conversion?

Answer: Sir/Ma'am, Article 25 protects freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practise and propagate religion, subject to constitutional limitations. The State has a legitimate responsibility to prevent conversion through force, fraud or coercion. However, voluntary religious choice is also connected with personal liberty and dignity. The challenge is ensuring that regulation does not unnecessarily interfere with individual freedom. The Chhattisgarh law has been challenged, but the court's request for a government response is not a finding of unconstitutionality.

In my opinion, the correct approach is evidence-based enforcement against coercion while protecting genuine personal choice, privacy and constitutional equality.