Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Danny Werfel announced on Monday that the agency's intention to expand its workforce to over 100,000 employees within the next three years to achieve modernisation, service, and enforcement objectives.

Werfel, marking his first anniversary in the IRS' top position, emphasised the need for additional funding to sustain this increased capacity.

He stated that the near-term focus of hiring would prioritise enhancing taxpayer services and managing complex audits.

The IRS is set to unveil detailed hiring plans next month as part of its strategic operating plan, utilising approximately $60 billion in supplemental funding allocated from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

Currently employing around 90,000 individuals, Werfel projected the need to surpass 100,000 employees over the next two to three years to align with the agency's objectives.

This expansion represents a substantial increase of over 20,000 full-time-equivalent staff compared to the fiscal 2022 level of 79,070.

Despite accusations from Republicans suggesting the IRS was building an "army" of 87,000 agents, Werfel clarified that the actual staffing increase would be considerably less.

He highlighted the necessity of overcoming previous budget cuts and rebuilding the workforce to effectively carry out the agency's duties.

While President Joe Biden's fiscal 2025 proposed budget includes a request for an additional $104 billion in IRS funding, negotiations have resulted in a reduction of the original $80 billion funds to $60 billion.

Werfel expressed concerns regarding potential disruptions for taxpayers, particularly amid ongoing negotiations and the looming tax filing season.

Regardless of the funding adjustments, Werfel assured that the IRS would continue making investments in technology to enhance its operations.

However, he stressed the importance of securing adequate funding to sustain the agency's workforce and support ongoing initiatives, including sophisticated audits and technology upgrades.

As discussions continue regarding future funding allocations, Werfel puts the spotlight on the necessity of maintaining sufficient resources to prevent capacity limitations and ensure the IRS can effectively carry out its duties.

He warned of potential consequences if funding falls short, indicating that without adequate support, the agency may face challenges in pursuing its modernisation goals.

With ongoing negotiations and potential adjustments to funding, the IRS remains focused on balancing operational needs with fiscal constraints to uphold its responsibilities to taxpayers.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Danny Werfel announced on Monday that the agency's intention to expand its workforce to over 100,000 employees within the next three years to achieve modernisation, service, and enforcement objectives.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Danny Werfel announced on Monday that the agency's intention to expand its workforce to over 100,000 employees within the next three years to achieve modernisation, service, and enforcement objectives. Werfel, marking his first anniversary in the IRS' top position, emphasised the need for additional funding to sustain this increased capacity. He stated that the near-term focus of hiring would prioritise enhancing taxpayer services and managing complex audits. The IRS is set to unveil detailed hiring plans next month as part of its strategic operating plan, utilising approximately $60 billion in supplemental funding allocated from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Currently employing around 90,000 individuals, Werfel projected the need to surpass 100,000 employees over the next two to three years to align with the agency's objectives. This expansion represents a substantial increase of over 20,000 full-time-equivalent staff compared to the fiscal 2022 level of 79,070. Despite accusations from Republicans suggesting the IRS was building an "army" of 87,000 agents, Werfel clarified that the actual staffing increase would be considerably less. He highlighted the necessity of overcoming previous budget cuts and rebuilding the workforce to effectively carry out the agency's duties. While President Joe Biden's fiscal 2025 proposed budget includes a request for an additional $104 billion in IRS funding, negotiations have resulted in a reduction of the original $80 billion funds to $60 billion. Werfel expressed concerns regarding potential disruptions for taxpayers, particularly amid ongoing negotiations and the looming tax filing season. Regardless of the funding adjustments, Werfel assured that the IRS would continue making investments in technology to enhance its operations. However, he stressed the importance of securing adequate funding to sustain the agency's workforce and support ongoing initiatives, including sophisticated audits and technology upgrades. As discussions continue regarding future funding allocations, Werfel puts the spotlight on the necessity of maintaining sufficient resources to prevent capacity limitations and ensure the IRS can effectively carry out its duties. He warned of potential consequences if funding falls short, indicating that without adequate support, the agency may face challenges in pursuing its modernisation goals. With ongoing negotiations and potential adjustments to funding, the IRS remains focused on balancing operational needs with fiscal constraints to uphold its responsibilities to taxpayers. (With inputs from Reuters)

IRS Commissioner outlines plans to boost workforce for modernisation goals

Modernisation in the agriculture sector is the need of the hour as already a lot of time has been lost, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.

In his monthly Mann Ki Baat programme, Modi also hailed the world's largest vaccination programme being carried out in India against COVID-19, and stressed on "dawai bhi, kadai bhi" (medicines as well as strict preventive measures).

Asserting that adopting modern practices in the agriculture sector is imperative, he said in every aspect of life newness, modernisation is essential.

"In India's agriculture sector, modernisation is the need of the hour. It has been delayed and we have already lost a lot of time," the prime minister said in his 75th episode of Mann Ki Baat.

"In order to create new employment opportunities in the agriculture sector, to increase farmers' income, it is equally important to adopt new alternatives, innovations along with traditional agricultural practices," he said.

The country has witnessed this during the white revolution and bee farming is also emerging as one such alternative, he said.

The prime minister's call for embracing modern practices in agriculture comes at a time when hundreds of farmers have been camping at Delhi's border points at Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri since November last year demanding that the Centre repeal the three contentious farm laws.

The government has maintained that these reform laws will boost farmers' income by bringing investment, modern practices and allow them to sell their produce anywhere across the country at best prices.

During his radio broadcast, Modi also recalled that in March last year the nation first heard about the Janata curfew.

The Janata curfew was imposed on March 22 last year on the prime minister's appeal.

"From very early on, the people of India have put up a spirited fight against COVID-19," he asserted.

Noting that around time last year, the question was whether there would be a vaccine for COVID-19 and by when would it be rolled out, Modi said it was a matter of pride that the world's largest vaccination drive is underway in India.

Modi also said that India's 'Nari Shakti' is excelling in the sports field and lauded the recent sporting feats of cricketer Mithali Raj and shuttler P V Sindhu.

On Mann Ki Baat completing 75 episodes, Modi said it seems like just yesterday when in 2014 "we began this journey" and thanked all the listeners.

"During Mann Ki Baat, we have discussed a wide range of subjects. We all have learnt so much. Diverse topics have been covered," he said.

Mann Ki Baat completes 75 episodes at a time when India is looking forward to marking our 'Amrut Mahotsav', Modi said underlining the importance of the celebrations of 75 years of Independence.

"The sacrifices of our great freedom fighters must inspire us to think about our duties as a citizen. This is something Mahatma Gandhi talked about extensively," he said.&nbsp;

Modernisation in the agriculture sector is the need of the hour as already a lot of time has been lost, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday. In his monthly Mann Ki Baat programme, Modi also hailed the world's largest vaccination programme being carried out in India against COVID-19, and stressed on "dawai bhi, kadai bhi" (medicines as well as strict preventive measures).

Modernisation in the agriculture sector is the need of the hour as already a lot of time has been lost, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday. In his monthly Mann Ki Baat programme, Modi also hailed the world's largest vaccination programme being carried out in India against COVID-19, and stressed on "dawai bhi, kadai bhi" (medicines as well as strict preventive measures). Asserting that adopting modern practices in the agriculture sector is imperative, he said in every aspect of life newness, modernisation is essential. "In India's agriculture sector, modernisation is the need of the hour. It has been delayed and we have already lost a lot of time," the prime minister said in his 75th episode of Mann Ki Baat. "In order to create new employment opportunities in the agriculture sector, to increase farmers' income, it is equally important to adopt new alternatives, innovations along with traditional agricultural practices," he said. The country has witnessed this during the white revolution and bee farming is also emerging as one such alternative, he said. The prime minister's call for embracing modern practices in agriculture comes at a time when hundreds of farmers have been camping at Delhi's border points at Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri since November last year demanding that the Centre repeal the three contentious farm laws. The government has maintained that these reform laws will boost farmers' income by bringing investment, modern practices and allow them to sell their produce anywhere across the country at best prices. During his radio broadcast, Modi also recalled that in March last year the nation first heard about the Janata curfew. The Janata curfew was imposed on March 22 last year on the prime minister's appeal. "From very early on, the people of India have put up a spirited fight against COVID-19," he asserted. Noting that around time last year, the question was whether there would be a vaccine for COVID-19 and by when would it be rolled out, Modi said it was a matter of pride that the world's largest vaccination drive is underway in India. Modi also said that India's 'Nari Shakti' is excelling in the sports field and lauded the recent sporting feats of cricketer Mithali Raj and shuttler P V Sindhu. On Mann Ki Baat completing 75 episodes, Modi said it seems like just yesterday when in 2014 "we began this journey" and thanked all the listeners. "During Mann Ki Baat, we have discussed a wide range of subjects. We all have learnt so much. Diverse topics have been covered," he said. Mann Ki Baat completes 75 episodes at a time when India is looking forward to marking our 'Amrut Mahotsav', Modi said underlining the importance of the celebrations of 75 years of Independence. "The sacrifices of our great freedom fighters must inspire us to think about our duties as a citizen. This is something Mahatma Gandhi talked about extensively," he said.

Modernisation need of hour in agriculture sector, Indian PM Modi says

The New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman famously wrote a book, ‘The Lexus and the Olive Tree’ in the concluding years of the 20th century. In Friedman’s formulation, Lexus stood as a metaphor for modernity(globalisation) and the olive tree one for tradition. All in all, Friedman was bullish about globalisation, deeming it to be the defining feature or a large megatrend that would reshape the world in fundamental ways. Events and even trends corroborated and validated Friedman’s claim: capital flows crisscrossed the globe, as did people flows; state sovereignty – a feature of the Westphalian order – was getting malleable and so on. In this schema, the nation-state was held to be an irrational construct, an obstacle in the way of progress defined by a certain economic philosophy, that was intellectual and maiden of the 3rd wave of globalisation, that could be traced to mid-1970s.

But, fast forward a couple of decades: globalisation is in crisis and the nation-state is making a comeback. The ‘walls’ are going up again and the world is retreating into itself. While this might be in the nature of a pause or hiatus in the larger grand historical perspective, but mellow-balisation or slow-labialisation is real, a trend that will only get exacerbated in the post-COVID-19 world. Friedman then was ‘irrationally exuberant’. What explains the halt to the onward march of globalisation?

The answer lies in the metaphor of the olive tree.

&nbsp;Man(woman), in the final analysis, is intensely tribal and is, as opposed to certain theories wired to be so. Mankind’s tribalism gets kind of reified in his or her desire for a stable identity. (Multiple identities in oneself, might even be unnatural and lead perhaps to the rebellion of the core self against assumed identities). It is, say in a Western context, only the second or the third-generation immigrant cohort that can be said to be rather fully integrated. The first or even the second-generation cohort are in a constant battle to negotiate their identities with their selves and host societies.

But, more eloquently, or tellingly, it is in larger projects that the battle or quest for identity becomes more powerful and salient. Here Brexit, the United Kingdom’s divorce from the European Union might be a case in point. While, for instance, a man or woman from Bath in the UK will have more in common with people from the same region than Yorkshire and while classes are also a constituent in the make-up of identity, in the sense of immediacy, but the larger British identity accords reassurance and connect between this identities-emotionally and psychically. This holds despite the fact Britishness is also a construct, or in the formulation of Benedict Andersen, an imagined community that, obiter dictum, had an outward-looking thrust during the heyday of imperialism but turned inward after that.

It was this sense of emotional and psychic reassurance that the larger European project fractured. The man(woman) from Bath would rather be anchored to Britain and the attendant idea of ‘Britishness’- a category that was, in his or her mind already under assault by the multiculturalisation of his or her country. Slowly but inexorably, the core self rebelled against a project and its vague ideational boundaries, porous as they were. The result was foreordained here.

This is happening in various permutations and combinations across the world. The post-colonial intellectual, in an attempt to create an identity for his or her newly liberated country, tried to wed the country together by creating ideational and intellectual constructs, that were more Lexus than the Olive Tree. But, while this elitist construction succeeded for a while, in the ultimate analysis, the more emotive and visceral aspects of identity are gaining in salience.

Is project modernity, in the sense of fashioning a ‘new’ man by and through intellectual devices and state structures a failed one? Probably. Social engineering of this sort is doomed unless and until allied to the emotional and emotive aspects of the soil. But project modernity has not entirely failed. It has chalked some notable successes but when it comes to modernity and tradition, there is tension and even conflict between these.

Modernity, to paraphrase Emile Durkheim, can be an intensely alienating process, with no endpoint. And, when this alienation hits, man(woman) seeks refuge in community or the nation. This is what explains Brexit and similar movements across the world, populist or otherwise. In this sense then, the Olive Tree always trumps the Lexus! 
 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman famously wrote a book, ‘The Lexus and the Olive Tree’ in the concluding years of the 20th century. In Friedman’s formulation, Lexus stood as a metaphor for modernity(globalisation) and the olive tree one for tradition.

The New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman famously wrote a book, ‘The Lexus and the Olive Tree’ in the concluding years of the 20th century. In Friedman’s formulation, Lexus stood as a metaphor for modernity(globalisation) and the olive tree one for tradition. All in all, Friedman was bullish about globalisation, deeming it to be the defining feature or a large megatrend that would reshape the world in fundamental ways. Events and even trends corroborated and validated Friedman’s claim: capital flows crisscrossed the globe, as did people flows; state sovereignty – a feature of the Westphalian order – was getting malleable and so on. In this schema, the nation-state was held to be an irrational construct, an obstacle in the way of progress defined by a certain economic philosophy, that was intellectual and maiden of the 3rd wave of globalisation, that could be traced to mid-1970s. But, fast forward a couple of decades: globalisation is in crisis and the nation-state is making a comeback. The ‘walls’ are going up again and the world is retreating into itself. While this might be in the nature of a pause or hiatus in the larger grand historical perspective, but mellow-balisation or slow-labialisation is real, a trend that will only get exacerbated in the post-COVID-19 world. Friedman then was ‘irrationally exuberant’. What explains the halt to the onward march of globalisation? The answer lies in the metaphor of the olive tree. Man(woman), in the final analysis, is intensely tribal and is, as opposed to certain theories wired to be so. Mankind’s tribalism gets kind of reified in his or her desire for a stable identity. (Multiple identities in oneself, might even be unnatural and lead perhaps to the rebellion of the core self against assumed identities). It is, say in a Western context, only the second or the third-generation immigrant cohort that can be said to be rather fully integrated. The first or even the second-generation cohort are in a constant battle to negotiate their identities with their selves and host societies. But, more eloquently, or tellingly, it is in larger projects that the battle or quest for identity becomes more powerful and salient. Here Brexit, the United Kingdom’s divorce from the European Union might be a case in point. While, for instance, a man or woman from Bath in the UK will have more in common with people from the same region than Yorkshire and while classes are also a constituent in the make-up of identity, in the sense of immediacy, but the larger British identity accords reassurance and connect between this identities-emotionally and psychically. This holds despite the fact Britishness is also a construct, or in the formulation of Benedict Andersen, an imagined community that, obiter dictum, had an outward-looking thrust during the heyday of imperialism but turned inward after that. It was this sense of emotional and psychic reassurance that the larger European project fractured. The man(woman) from Bath would rather be anchored to Britain and the attendant idea of ‘Britishness’- a category that was, in his or her mind already under assault by the multiculturalisation of his or her country. Slowly but inexorably, the core self rebelled against a project and its vague ideational boundaries, porous as they were. The result was foreordained here. This is happening in various permutations and combinations across the world. The post-colonial intellectual, in an attempt to create an identity for his or her newly liberated country, tried to wed the country together by creating ideational and intellectual constructs, that were more Lexus than the Olive Tree. But, while this elitist construction succeeded for a while, in the ultimate analysis, the more emotive and visceral aspects of identity are gaining in salience. Is project modernity, in the sense of fashioning a ‘new’ man by and through intellectual devices and state structures a failed one? Probably. Social engineering of this sort is doomed unless and until allied to the emotional and emotive aspects of the soil. But project modernity has not entirely failed. It has chalked some notable successes but when it comes to modernity and tradition, there is tension and even conflict between these. Modernity, to paraphrase Emile Durkheim, can be an intensely alienating process, with no endpoint. And, when this alienation hits, man(woman) seeks refuge in community or the nation. This is what explains Brexit and similar movements across the world, populist or otherwise. In this sense then, the Olive Tree always trumps the Lexus! (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Blog: The tension between modernity and tradition is real

Pakistan has arrested at least 100 Indian fishermen off the Gujarat coast.

The arrests were made allegedly for illegally fishing in Pakistani&nbsp;waters, officials said on Sunday.

The Maritime Security Agency (MSA) made the arrests Saturday night, and also impounded 19 wooden boats, a security official told AFP on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

&quot;The 100 men would be taken to the court on Monday,&quot; senior police official Adeel Chandio said after the fishermen were handed over to the police by MSA officials.

On March 5, Pakistan apprehended 94 Indian fishermen off the Gujarat coast in the Arabian Sea.&nbsp;

An official of the National Fishworkers&#39;&nbsp;Forum had said that the Pakistani agency&#39;s vessels are active.

Pakistan released 219 Indian fishermen as a &quot;goodwill&quot; gesture in January.

But overall relations between the two neighbours have plummeted since a deadly attack on an Indian army base in Indian Kashmir in September, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

Experts say global warming and chaotic urbanisation is to be blamed

Pakistan has arrested at least 100 Indian fishermen off the Gujarat coast. The arrests were made allegedly for illegally fishing in Pakistani waters, officials said on Sunday. The Maritime Security Agency (MSA) made the arrests Saturday night, and also impounded 19 wooden boats, a security official told AFP on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media. "The 100 men would be taken to the court on Monday," senior police official Adeel Chandio said after the fishermen were handed over to the police by MSA officials. On March 5, Pakistan apprehended 94 Indian fishermen off the Gujarat coast in the Arabian Sea. An official of the National Fishworkers' Forum had said that the Pakistani agency's vessels are active. Pakistan released 219 Indian fishermen as a "goodwill" gesture in January. But overall relations between the two neighbours have plummeted since a deadly attack on an Indian army base in Indian Kashmir in September, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed. (WION with inputs from AFP)

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