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The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has announced amendments to the Income Tax Act, 1961, allowing Income Tax officers to access taxpayers' email and social media accounts in certain cases. This move aims to combat tax evasion and black money, but may raise privacy and data protection concerns. Taxpayers are advised to comply with tax laws and be cautious about online activities. The new rules are expected to come into effect from April 1, 2025.

From April 1, 2026, the income tax department will have the right to breach into and view your social media accounts, personal emails, bank accounts, online investment accounts, trading accounts, and more if the income tax department suspects that you have neglected to pay income tax or if they have any reason to believe that you possess any undeclared income, money, gold, jewelry, or valuable item or property on which you have not paid any relevant income tax under the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Section 132 of the current I-T Act, 1961, provides that the authorised officers can carry out searches and seize property and books of accounts in case they possess information and believe on reasonable grounds that a person possesses any income, property, or documents unaccounted for which they would not willingly reveal to avoid payment of income tax.

One such way they can do so under existing legislation is by prying open the lock of any locker, box, or door in case their keys are not available and if there is reason to believe that any unreported assets, or books of account, are being maintained there. Even this power of break-in, under the new bill on income tax, has also been delegated to your virtual digital space or your computer system.

As per clause 247 of the Income Tax bill, if an authorised officer suspects that a person has undisclosed income or property that is within the purview of I-T Act, they may "break open the lock of any door, box, locker, safe, almirah, or other receptacle for exercising the powers conferred by clause (i), to enter and search any building, place, etc., where the keys thereof or the access to such building, place, etc., is not available, or gain access by overriding the access code to any said computer system, or virtual digital space, where the access code thereof is not available.".

Digital platforms are responsible for 62% of total student enrollments, which reflects the digital revolution of India's education space. A transformation in how educational institutions are recruiting and interacting with students is reflected in the report, indicating that websites, social media, and online ads have become the major sources for student recruitment, a recent Business Standard report reports.

The study highlights the extent to which mobile phones dominate search and enrollment in education. Surprisingly, 55% of students utilize smartphones and tablets to explore course offerings, apply online, and employ online tools. Students rely increasingly on online sources for educational choices as cell phones are more accessible and internet access widens.

With 45% of students utilizing networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to study institutions and sign up for courses, Universities and colleges are using these sites to execute targeted ad campaigns, conduct virtual Q&A sessions, and highlight alumni success stories, making social media a key recruitment tool.

The emergence of digital channels is forcing educational institutions to reconsider their marketing strategies. Offline methods, including newspaper adverts and physical sports fairs, are becoming outdated as students favor online resources more and more. Institutions that do not adjust to this trend will be left behind in an ever-growing competitive education market.

To attract tech-savvy children, education professionals emphasize that schools need to invest in digital infrastructure, render their websites mobile-friendly, and create engaging content. Digital media will probably remain the dominant force behind student enrollments in the coming years, as witnessed by the growing usage of mobile devices, improved internet connectivity, and the influence of social media. Higher education in India's future is poised to be transformed by increasingly sophisticated digital hiring strategies, such as AI-based chatbots, virtual reality tours of campuses, and personalized online mentoring.

The education institutions that think ahead, offer online participation highly, and are data-based decision-makers will stand the most likely chance to attract and retain learners in this developing educational arena in the process of navigating the digital revolution.

A controversial income tax law that would grant tax authorities extensive access to people' social media accounts and electronic gadgets has been introduced. Serious privacy concerns have been brought up by the action, which is meant to reduce tax evasion and improve compliance, among professionals and citizens.

To track financial activities, the measure aims to grant the Income Tax Department access to taxpayers' computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices. To find any discrepancies between claimed income and lifestyle, the authorities will also keep an eye on taxpayers' social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The measure seeks to identify unreported earnings by monitoring taxpayers' online activity, spending patterns, and digital footprints.

Opponents of the initiative have expressed worries about privacy rights, arguing that such surveillance could violate people's rights and be abused. However, government officials promise that there will be protection against misuse. As per a Finance Ministry statement: "The bill rightly ensures that the collection of data will be only for tax issues and will not violate personal privacy."

Aside from increased surveillance powers, the bill introduces fundamental reforms to taxation policies: To lower the burden of tax on individuals, the bill suggests modified income tax slabs. Working-class individuals may see relief with a greater standard deduction, considering escalating living expenses. The bill proposes to simplify the TDS rates to lower the compliance costs for taxpayers.

The bill will be brought into Parliament shortly, and its passage could revolutionize India's tax enforcement scenario. It will, however, be opposed by privacy activists, digital rights groups, and citizens who are wary of government overreach. As concern about data privacy and government monitoring increases, the bill's future will rest on whether policymakers implement adequate measures to safeguard taxpayer rights while addressing evasion.

Sai Manogna Guthikonda, aged 17, has established a motivating benchmark by giving greater importance to focus rather than social media. She owes her brilliant performance—a 100 percentile score in JEE Main 2024—to one decisive action: deactivating her Instagram account.

By removing herself from social media, which ultimately helped her pass one of the most difficult tests in India. Her story serves as a reminder of social media's potential for distraction and the importance of striking a good balance between one's online and academic lives.

Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is among India's most competitive exams, and it demands serious preparation and relentless focus. To avoid the distraction that social media can create, Sai Manogna deliberately avoided Instagram for some time. She was able to dedicate more hours to studying, which improved her efficiency and academic performance dramatically.

Hundreds of students who struggle to balance their studies and internet activities can relate to her story. Usually, the allure of conversing, following trends, and continuously scrolling through posts comes at the expense of useful study time. By removing this digital distraction, Sai Manogna was able to concentrate more effectively and with less distraction.

She discussed her experience and underlined the need to exercise self-control and setting clear priorities. "While social media can be a lot of fun, it can easily divert your attention. It was much easier for me to just study after I stopped using Instagram because I didn't have to constantly check my phone," she said. Her strategy highlights one of the growing worries for educators and parents.

IIM Mumbai and IIT Mandi are India's most socially influential education institutions on social media. Based on these parameters, IIM Mumbai ranked first in management school, whereas IIT Mandi was placed first among engineering colleges. As per the survey, IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Bombay were second in their respective domains.

The survey examined Indian educational institutions' social media performance, quantifying such aspects as: Institutions' pace in building their online community. The extent of engagement in the form of likes, shares, and comments. The success of posts in providing value to followers. Partnering with industry and education opinion leaders.

With more and more individuals using digital platforms for communication, networking, and brand establishment, schools and universities need to have a strong online presence. Social media is not only important for enrollment marketing but also for interactions with alumni and stakeholders, research promotion, events, and achievements, campus life and student activities, and collaborations with industry leaders. 

Both IIM Mumbai and IIT Mandi have been able to capitalize on the use of social media in order to stabilize their brand establishment and establish themselves as dynamic institutions in the cyber world. Smart use of sensational content, partnering with industries, and regular communiqués have helped them position themselves at a dominant level on top.

This acknowledgment is an endorsement of the increasing role social media plays in higher education. The institutions that proactively interact with their online public establish stronger networks, improve the student experience, and become influencers.

As the education landscape keeps changing, Indian universities and colleges will be willing to invest more in online engagement, and social media will become an influencer for reputation and influence.

Indian Express has launched a new news website exclusively for students. The website is designed to provide interesting and relevant news content to students, which has been specially curated to meet their interests and needs.

The website will feature news articles, videos, and podcasts on a variety of topics, such as education, career, and social issues. It will promote media literacy, critical thinking, and well-educated decision-making among students.

The Indian Express recognizes the need to keep students interested and well-informed about what is happening in the world.

The site will be accessible to provide students with a reliable source of news and information so that it is convenient for them to remain connected with issues of concern to them. The website is for students of all ages and classes, from school students to university graduates. By providing students with credible and unbiased news, The Indian Express hopes to empower them to make informed choices and active citizens of a democratic society.

This is not just another site throwing headlines in your face. The Indian Express wants its readers, and particularly students, to question, dissect, and debate news rather than swiping past it. Everyone in the student community. Whether you’re a high schooler keeping up with board exam updates, a college student exploring career options, or a young grad stepping into the real world—this platform is built for you.

With disinformation lurking on every corner, a student-focused, dependable news source is revolutionary. The Indian Express is on a mission to raise a generation of well-read, media-literate young minds—and that's something to look forward to. So, if you’ve ever felt that news wasn’t made for you, this platform is here to change that. Stay informed, stay curious, and who knows? Maybe you’ll be the next big voice shaping the world!