A certain tax exemption granted in this Budget has attracted some attention. This is an exemption to Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) members on certain perquisites and allowances, which will take effect retrospectively, from April 1, 2008. This privilege was hitherto reserved for the Chief Election Commissioner, election commissioners and judges of the Supreme Court. It is possible to see this as a routine concession but in this case the connections are interesting. Omita Paul is advisor to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, and her husband K K Paul is member, UPSC. A former police commissioner, Paul joined the UPSC in 2007. UPSC members have a tenure of six years or till they turn 65 years of age.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app