 Good afternoon, sir. Good afternoon, ma'am. Good afternoon, sir. Yes, sir. Your name is Sri Kumar, or do you live in Kumar? Your name is Sri Kumar, sir. Sri Kumar. Yes, sir. So, Vinder Kumar is your father? Yes. So, Rukun Kauri Kaur. Yes. Found a cricket. I find I think a lot of interest in cricket. Yes, sir. I am an avid watcher of cricket, though I have not played it very actively. Okay. What is your father? So, my father was a migrant labourer in the state of Doha in Qatar. But he returned from during the wake of COVID crisis and is now in the home. Another type, yes. Tell me something about Kudambashtri. Kudambashtri? Kudambashtri. Kudambashtri. So, Kudambashtri is a large self-help group in Kerala, which is led by women particularly, who is into the social sector and creating employment opportunities for women, entrepreneurial opportunities so that they can gain financial independence mainly. How it's working? So, it is working in a very good manner as of yet, especially during the COVID crisis, when a lot of women were at rendered unemployment and was facing financial crisis, Kudambashtri was helpful for them. Okay. In what all areas it is working? Is that including a lot of things? Yes, sir. It is mainly in ensuring food security for women, secondly, in the entrepreneurial opportunity, gaining self-employment opportunities and the health sector as well. Okay. Yes. Local self-government. Yes, sir. If you compare with any other state, what are you doing? How those are working in Kerala and those are working in other states? Yes. So, with respect to local self-government in Kerala, I think it is one of the best examples that we can state out in India because of the development of power to the government official representatives in the local level. And also the accountability that is also ensured through model code of conduct and an ombudsman that has also been appointed for local self-government is a method in the right direction. With respect to many other states where we can witness. No, it is only development of powers. Powers are devolved by many states. Yes, sir. I think with respect to the development of power in the 12th and 11th schedule, Kerala was one of the early runners in the development. It is only powers or something else also? Yes, sir. The people's participation is also very active and also the social sector. Development involves three things, three Fs. Yes, sir. What are those? Functions, functionaries and funds, functions and functionaries. Yes, sir. So, functionaries is also important? Yes, sir. The functionaries is missing in other states? Absolutely, sir. And funds are also missing? Yes. How they could do that functionaries? Sir, I believe through development of grants from the Kerala government budget and that can be done. Secondly, also by ensuring that the taxation collection. Functionaries. Functionaries. Yes, sir. Recruited so many people? Yes, sir. Or? Sir, they have recruited a lot of people for the local self-government. Secondly, it is also about the appointment which is from the Kerala. Executive is also higher on the highest. Yes, a lot of persons are on deputation. Yes, sir. That is why that is functioning well. Yes, sir. Okay. Tell you something about bureaucracy now. If you compare bureaucracy of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Yes, sir. Two positive things in your mind, two negative things. Yes, sir. I believe the attitude of the bureaucrats in Kerala towards the people is also very compassionate, which is also witnessed in other states. This is one positive aspect I have witnessed. Secondly, the kind of public awareness about how to approach a bureaucrat and how to attain the public function is also very witnessed in Kerala. I am not really aware of how it is functioning in Tamil Nadu per se. So, I may not be able to articulate. Any other state? Sorry, sir. You are not able to... You are not able to... You have not tried also to find out. As of now, I have not tried. When you are filling your choice, you would have thought about it whether I should fill Kerala, what type of bureaucracy will be there which you know in other states, how different it will be. Yes, sir. Sir, I have... If I can point out one reason, one thing which I have noticed is that people in many states have a feeling of subordination towards the executive that is there. So, I believe that should probably witness a change and should see public servants from a more democratic perspective is what I have witnessed. Are you sure? Are you sure? Yes, sir. Sir, I believe it is one of the most medicinal plant with medicinal qualities that is found in the forest areas of Kerala. Which area? Sir, I believe it is found in the Idiqui region, Idiqui district of Kerala. Agastya... Agastya Malha in the Idiqui district of Kerala is what I found. Okay, by some name, particular name is the Arab tribe. Sir, Irola tribe is what I can... Kani tribe. Kani tribe, sir. Irola tribe is in that region. No sir, Irola tribe is primarily found in Tamil Nadu region, however, born in... Northern Tamil Nadu, entirely different direction. Yes. So, what do you know about PM Gatishakthi, national master plan? Yes. So, PM Gatishakthi is one of the central governments plan to coordinate all the infrastructural activities and ensure that the bottlenecks found within different departments is overcome, especially with the road transport, water transport, water mission and electricity is overcome and to make sure that infrastructure development is done in a seamless manner. Yes, sir. You know, is it a new plan or what... what does this... Gatishakthi, what are all these aims? I am not able to understand what... Gatishakthi master plan. Yes, sir. Is it some new plan they are giving or what else is happening there? Sir, I am sorry. I am not able to recollect at this point whether it was a new plan or not, sir. Okay. Right. In Kerala, under Gatishakthi, what are all the projects implemented? Yes. So, one of the major projects is done between the Kerala road-based department and the KICB, Kerala State Electricity Board and the Water Corporation and ensuring that when a road work is being done, there is a clear communication within the water department so that the roads are not broken in an haphazard manner and affecting the traffic. So, this is one of the coordination programs that is being done in Kerala right now. Okay. Is it part of Gatishakthi? No. Is it part of Gatishakthi? Okay, sir. I may not be able to recollect that, sir. Sir, yes. Your mother... Yes. ...is a retired teacher. No, sir. My mother is a working teacher, sir. Working teacher? Yes. My father is retired. Working teacher? Yes. Which class? So, she is a primary school teacher for classes from 1 to 7. She taught you also? Yes, sir. She taught me as well. Yes, sir. What are all the advantages and disadvantages of being a son of a teacher? Yes. So, primary advantage is that we have an easier access to resources in the school and easier access to teachers, fellow teachers. Being a son of a teacher gives that advantage. One of the disadvantages is that there is a great deal of attention on yourself on being a teacher son and you are being restricted in expressing your opinion at some point of time. So, this is one disadvantage I had faced personally when I was in school. And secondly, my mother being a lot more stricter towards me when she is personally teaching me in the classes also. One disadvantage I have faced, sir. Yes, we are on the same page. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Okay, tell me something about... What do you know about FATF? FATF. So, Financial Action Task Force is one of the global organization under the auspices of G20 and G7, which was also created to ensure that the money laundering and trafficking of and illegal sponsoring of especially drug trafficking and terrorist financing is stopped. So, it is an mechanism between the countries to stop the illegal financing. Yes. FATF is what? Yes. So, they have different mechanisms under FATF to ensure that there is no state sponsoring of such illegal activities. So, they list down the countries based on grey list, black list and ensure that... What is the basic document on which they list grey, black or red list? Sir, if I can recollect, it is the platform or the document with an FATF that is ensured. I am not able to recollect the exact name of the document FATF recommendations. FATF recommendations. Thanks, sir. Year 2020 is one of the crucial years Yes. for India. Yes, sir. When it comes to FATF, why? Sir... So, 2022, sorry, sir. Sir, I believe 2022 was one of the years in which the FATF had decided to ensure that Pakistan remains in the grey list, which was one of India's greatest demands on FATF to ensure they do not fund terrorism. That is... India will be evaluated this year. India will be evaluated. Should have been evaluated in 2020. Okay, sir. COVID doesn't happen. Okay, sir. It didn't happen. Now, this year, they are going to evaluate India. Okay. So, then we will come to know where we are placed. Okay. Thank you, sir. Okay. In taxation... Yes, sir. What is the... big picture of Indian tax collections? Yes, sir. So, if I may ask you, are you referring to the figures that is being... Big picture figures. Okay, sir. What is the total revenue which is collected? So, I do not know the exact figure of the tax collections for this figure. However, I could probably shed some light on what are we aiming towards in the future. So, with respect to tax collection, I believe we are looking at simplifying the tax labs in terms of direct tax collection and ensuring that there is a rationalization of tax collection and improving our tax base is what I can recollect at this point. What is the difference between simplification and rationalization? Yes, sir. So, both are essentially in a similar manner where we reduce the complexities within the tax labs and ensure that we reduce the amount of rebates or exemptions. Or the complexities. Yes, sir. So, I believe now we have multiple tax labs both within direct tax and within in direct tax such as GST. So, I believe there needs to be a simplification of these tax labs. Reducing the tax lab and broadening the tax bracket is what we can do at this point. What is the bracket? Sir, I believe in the direct taxes up to 3 lakh is now tax-exempted. So, now what we can probably do is that the higher tax labs can be broadened and the bracket can be widened. The income tax bracket can be widened. Okay. Going back to my original question. Yes. What is the big picture in terms of percentage of various taxes can go? Sir, with respect to GST if I can come, I think from 0% GST up to 28% What is it? Out of total collections, how much indirect taxes contribute? How much direct tax contribute? Okay. Do you have any rough idea? Yes, sir. So, I believe our indirect tax collection is higher than our direct tax collection and within the direct tax collection I believe it is a corporate taxes. Sorry. Within the direct taxes, I believe it is a corporate taxes which have the major chum and the rest is taken by the income tax. Thanks. Very good. Sir, you are fairly familiar with budget. No, sir. I have not gone through the budget in details. Yes, sir. The major point. Yes. Tell us something about crystal currency. Crystal currency. Yeah, crypto, sorry. Crypto currency. Right. So, crypto currency is one of the latest technologically innovations in the tech currency sector where we are trying to digitalize that particular currency and ensure that rather than the paper money we are using the digital version of the currency which is much more secure and much more harder to manipulate. Is it ever possible to have only crypto currency and do we have this paper currency? Is it possible? Or a country like India? No, sir. I do not believe a complete elimination of paper currency would be possible in a country like India because many of the majority of the population are not digitally illiterate or probably do not have an idea on how to use such crypto currency. So, it is not easily eliminated. You think taxing crypto currency will be easy? No, sir. I would not believe that taxing crypto currency will be easy because the regulations yet needs to come because the entire area of crypto currency is still yet to be explored to be a lot because especially the security concerns with crypto currency remains now. So, I believe taxation would require a lot more research and development into it. In the budget some tax has been proposed. What is the extent of tax? Sir, sir, I am not able to refer. 30% 30% Thank you, sir. Who will be paying? The receiver or the giver? Sir, I believe it should be the particular currency. Why do you say that? Sir, I believe because the owners or the tax incidents that is being levied is upon the receiver, I believe. That is the reason they are supposed to pay the taxes. And crypto currency, the incident cannot be shifted? I am not able to recollect at this point, sir. Okay, that's it. So, what is the extent of deficit in the budget proposed? Sir, I believe the fiscal deficit at this percentage is about 6% of the GDP. 6.4%. Okay, but as per FRBM, what it should have been? Sir, should it be? Yes, sir. What is FRBM? So, fiscal regulatory and budget management. How fiscal? Fiscal regulation and budget management. Fiscal responsibility and budget management. Okay. So, what it should have been? So, it should be below 5% of the GDP is what I have reconnected. 3%. But then now we are almost double of that, no? Yes, sir. So, what is the point in having a roadmap? Yes, sir. Is there any sense? Yes, sir. I believe there is a purpose for having a roadmap, but I believe the current fiscal deficit is also partly as a result of the current COVID-19 waves and the existing pressures on economies such as inflationary and the global slowdown as a result has affected it. So, I believe the roadmap will help us to have an idea about where we should restrict ourselves and give us an idea that the economy should be restricted before going into a dangerous trap. Good. What do you understand by monetization of an asset? What exactly is monetization? Yes, sir. Monetization of an asset refers to the transformation of that particular asset into monetary terms and ensuring that we have returns or we have considerable returns from an asset before returns into a bad debt. Now, we had a concept called national monetization pipeline. Yes, sir. Why was it called pipeline? Why did I plan? Sorry, sir. I am not able to... Team for a minute. Yes, sir. So, I believe the reason why it is told as a pipeline is because it is a progressive plan that will realize in a particular number of years rather than a plan which would be probably in a lot more shorter term. Yes, pipeline means it's a flow. Yes, sir. It's not a constant thing. It's a constant. More can be added already if you have been listening. Okay. So, it's not a one-time thing. Okay, good. Now, what is the level of corporate tax in the budget? Any idea? No. Sir, I believe it is north of 22 percentage. Believe. Yes, sir. I believe it is north of 22 percentage. Yes, sir. Okay. It's good to believe, no? Yes, sir. Okay. Tell me. You studied in MES Indian School. Yes, sir. MES is a short form for Middle East Educational Society. But it's run by Government of India? No, sir. It was situated in the city of Doha in Qatar. It was in school which is affiliated to the CBSE. However, it is run by private entities. Oh, syllabus and all the same. Yes. CBSE. Yes. Teachers are the Indian? Yes, sir. Teachers are mostly Indians. We had one or two teachers from Bangladesh. I know. One teacher. Yes. So, you are able to join college education here. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. You worked in UNS and Eng also. Yes, sir. How was that challenging? How did you find it? Yes, sir. So, I got into or I joined Ernst & Young through a campus placement drive that happened during the final year of my college. I joined in the capacity of a tax analyst who was serving my clients in UK with respect to serving their tax requirements in UK Revenue Department. Oh, you were there for two years, huh? Yes, sir. That's really great. Thanks. And before that you were in University, right? Yes, sir. What were you doing there? Yes, sir. Actually, after Ernst & Young, I joined University in the role of student faculty to associate with a project by government of Karnataka, named Project Jnana Saminvaya, which was a public education outreach program to improve the quality of higher education in Karnataka. So, I was... Therefore, almost... No, few months. Yes, sir. Three months only. Yes, sir. Okay. Last question. Yes, sir. Your first preference is foreign service. Yes, sir. This one I don't know very minor thing. What is persona non grata? So, persona non grata is a diplomatic term where we use when the diplomat is not allowed by the host country to serve any more in that particular country and is being asked to repatriate into their home country. And that diplomat... Normally, 24 hours. Yes, sir. 24 hours. But whenever it happens, immediately the other country will also do the same. Yes, sir. It is an retaliatory measure by the other country. And it is an example of Indian case. Sorry, sir. I'm not able to recollect an Indian case. However, I recollect a case in USA and China where China had declared a lot of U.S. diplomats person non grata. India, Pakistan also. Yes, sir. They did so. Yes, sir. Thank you. Okay, last. What is this stapled visa? Visa, you get stamped. Yes, sir. But stapled visa, they give Chinese. Stapled visa. Do you know the context? Sir, I couldn't hear the word properly. Stapled visa. Stapled visa. Stapled visa. Yes, sir. No, sir. I have not heard about it so far. I have heard Arunachal from people who wanted to go. Okay, sir. They didn't put it on the stamp. Why did they do that? Sir, personally, I have not read about that particular incident so far. Take about a minute. Sir, I believe Arunachal Pradesh being a bordering state with China, I believe some of the individuals had crossed over to the Chinese border. No, no. They were very much Indian. Okay. Yes. Okay. To show that Arunachal is still there. I'm sort of... Fine, sir. Okay. You said that you were working with the university. Yes, sir. On higher education, how to make it better or improve. So what was your take away? So, three takeaways which I took from the program was the rural universities in Karnataka and in the semi-urban regions faced a lot of difficulties with respect to funding and with respect to the bottlenecks that the student faces in terms of soft skills. Many of them were highly talented. They were working in soft skills to get into a proper corporate job. Secondly, I believe the quality of the teaching had also to improve in such universities where the teachers were also not aware of the recent developments in the edu tech sector. Thirdly, I also believe the syllabus that needs to be in line with the recent developments in the educational industry. So, was it in the same university or you were going out somewhere to attend schools or was there a tie up with some government schools? How was it? Yes ma'am. So, this project was designed in a way where the private and deemed to be universities in Karnataka was asked to adopt a particular university in the rural areas of Karnataka and helped them by designing the modules to train their students, teachers as well as their governance. Okay. Yes ma'am. And your mother is a teacher. Yes ma'am. So, what is your view on Angan Vadis? How important they are? Ma'am, I believe Angan Vadis are very crucial for a child's early development and ensuring that those students who are those children who come from very economically poor situations. This is a place for them to ensure that nutritional intake is also ensured along with the early child care is provided to them. So, I believe in that respect Angan Vadis are very crucial for a country like India where there is a huge set of malnutrition and educational care. So, has there any recent changes in Angan Vadis where they are operating from? Ma'am, I am not able to remember any of it at this point. Okay. And how well they are working there in your area? Ma'am, in my home state in Kerala and as well as my whole home district which is Kori Kori, I believe it is functioning in a very positive and efficient manner because they have been able to ensure that the messages of healthcare immunization is being spread to the students at a very young age as well as mothers are also being asked to take necessary health. So, I believe it is working in a very efficient manner. Okay. So, you also mentioned about SAG, self-help groups. Yes ma'am. So, how are these made? Ma'am, self-help groups are formed with an association of women or association of individuals, like-minded individuals who come together with the similar objectives and they pull up the finances to ensure that their group objectives are being met. How big is the group? Ma'am, it can be anywhere from four to and above. It can be any group starting from four members and above. Suppose there are four women or ten women. They want to form a group. What is the process? Ma'am, I believe the first thing they have to do is that not aware of the regulatory process. However, if a group of women wanted to start an SAG, they can open up a bank account, a formal bank account with the help of an SAG bank linkages program under the auspices of NABAR. And they can ensure that they have a particular objective with respect to entrepreneurial and start up the businesses. Okay. Debate. You were the best speaker at the National Debate Championship. Yes, ma'am. So, what is the difference between a debate and a declaration? Ma'am, I have not heard about a declaration yet. Okay. Louis Hamilton, you have heard? Yes, ma'am. Okay. So, you are watching Formula Asus? Yes, ma'am. Okay. And which team is he representing? Ma'am, Louis Hamilton drives for Mercedes-Benz AMG Petronas team. And since how long he has been with them? Ma'am, he has been with the team since 2011. And before that? And before that, he was with the McLaren team. Oh, yeah. And cooking is one of your hobbies? Yes, ma'am. Why is this, you know, cooking industry, if I am talking about the industry in particular? Yes, ma'am. They are mostly male chefs. Yes, ma'am. Why is it male dominant? Ma'am, I believe that the usual glass-ceiling effect that is seen in every industry is also particularly, is also there in the cooking industry as well. And secondly, I believe the social stigma that is attached towards the profession of cooking and being seen and being imposed on women as a household job. In terms of cooking, women are cooking at home. Yes, ma'am. So this is an exception where women are the ones who are cooking at home. But when you come, go out, you see in the profession, they are not there. Yes, ma'am. Ma'am, the concept of patriarchy, which comes in and imposes cooking as responsibility on the women rather than a profession that they could take up. And this social taboo or the social myth needs to be, is one of the reasons why we cannot see a lot of women professional chefs. Okay, one last question. Yes. What is happening to Patreon? Ma'am, not recollecting over it. You're not familiar with it. No matter. How are the stocks happening and what is the situation of the stocks of Patreon? So do you know about Patreon? Yes, ma'am. I know about Patreon. What is the revenue model of Patreon? How do they make money? I'm not aware of the exact revenue model of Patreon at this point. Okay. No ideas, no guesses, nothing. What could be the revenue model? How do they make money? You have never thought about it? Haven't thought about it yet, ma'am. I believe they work on the commissionerate model where the transactions, every transaction that a customer does on a Patreon, a similar percentage of commission goes to Patreon. You use it? Yes, ma'am. I do use it. Okay. Fine. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. What is your assessment, self-assessment? Sir, I believe some of the areas are lacking in giving the precise answer to some of the topics, simply because I have not gone through those topics as of yet. So these are one of the, this is one thing that I felt that I could not give precise answers for many of the questions that was being asked. All you have done well. Yes, ma'am. All your knowledge is good, quite confident and you are quite honest in telling that I don't know. No. It's not any diki. Okay, sir. It's random. It's random. It's not, like I believe, I believe, just change over sometimes. I think in my view, in my opinion. Yes, sir. Every time telling, I believe, I believe, I think. Okay. Otherwise it's quite good. Okay. Just keep on reading international affairs. And I contact with other members and you are responding to one diki. Listen to the question carefully and understand. Okay. You are very good. Thanks, sir. Just, when is your interview? April 19th, sir. April 19th. You still have time. Yes, sir. Current affairs will be very important. You have foreign service. Yes, sir. You know. So, so many VIPs come and go. Yes, sir. And keep track of the final handout given by the fictional others. If you go to the other departments, you know, Sri Lanka and all that. Oops. So, all that. And the economic issues, they say, a lot of foreign issues, we are carrying these people. Oops. Thank you. Yeah, good. Very good. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Yes, sir. I'm planning to wear a dress that I haven't purchased. Yeah, thank you, sir. Thank you. Thank you, sir.