IRS attracting bright youngsters: Pranab Mukherjee

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) is attracting the country's most bright youngsters and maintained that Indian Foreign Service and Indian Administrative Service are no longer the only most sought-after careers.

Speaking after inaugurating the new campus of the Direct Taxes Regional Training Institute here, he said gone are the days when the most brilliant joined only IFS and IAS.

After the combined competitive examination, a large number of people, including MBAs and engineers with excellent academic record, are opting for IRS, he said.

"You will be surprised to know (that IRS is attracting good talent). We shall have to expand our training capacity."

He said direct tax base has been growing over the years.

"Today, 60% of taxes are coming from direct taxes," he said, adding, the direct tax base is to the tune of Rs5 lakh crore that he has projected in the revised budget estimates.

Expressing happiness over the quality of training, he said, "People from developing and developed countries are coming to be trained in our institutions."

The new campus is built at a cost of about Rs30 crore, has 1.25 lakh square feet of built up area and can provide residential facility for 110 trainees.