President emeritus of the International Road Federation (IRF) K K Kapila on Monday raised concerns over anomalies in India’s taxation structure and urged the government to take urgent corrective measures to support scientific research and technological innovation.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Kapila stated that if India genuinely seeks to emerge as a global knowledge and technological powerhouse by 2047, the country’s fiscal policies must actively support higher education, scientific research, innovation and technological advancement.

“We are unfortunately taxing life-saving helmets and stethoscopes but not cricket, but there is an urgent need to align taxation priorities with India’s long-term developmental and technological aspirations,” he said.

Drawing attention to publicly available financial figures, Kapila noted that the Indian Premier League (IPL) generated revenues of about ₹11,770 crore in 2023, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reported a surplus of ₹5,120 crore.

He observed that substantial profits generated by sports franchises and entertainment sectors could potentially contribute significant tax revenues that may be utilised for strengthening India’s research and innovation ecosystem.

Published on June 15, 2026