Economist Vijay Kelkar Receives Punyabhushan Award

Pune News Online: Noted economist Vijay Kelkar was honored with the prestigious Punyabhushan Award for his incredible work in economics. The awards ceremony took place in Pune, where Union Minister Nitin Gadkari presented the esteemed award to Kelkar, a prominent figure in India’s economic policy reforms. Kelkar’s nomination for this significant award was chosen by a selection committee led by the renowned scientist Raghunath Mashelkar.

Beyond recognizing Kelkar, the Punyabhushan Foundation, based in Pune, also paid tribute to the sacrifices of India’s brave military personnel. Four soldiers who were injured while on duty and the mother of a war martyr were honored for their contributions to the nation. During the event, Minister Gadkari specifically praised Kelkar’s crucial role in developing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) policy.

Gadkari highlighted how Kelkar helped create an economic system that has effectively reduced tax evasion and increased government income. “GST has brought discipline into the system, reduced black money, and today, it has become a model followed across the world,” Gadkari stated, crediting Kelkar for these positive changes.

In his concluding remarks, Gadkari emphasized that improving the lives of the poor, achieving economic prosperity, and implementing advanced policy reforms are only possible through the intelligence, dedication, and efforts of individuals like Vijay Kelkar.

Image: Wikipedia & Press Information Bureau