Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has expressed satisfaction over increase in direct tax base. Speaking after inaugurating the Direct Taxes Training Institute in Bangalore on Sunday, the Minister said the country's heavy dependence on indirect taxes earlier was worrying, but now direct tax base has increased by over 60 percent. He noted that this is the result of commendable task of direct tax recovery officers in the Direct Taxes department. 

Speaking about the need to build world class training centres in the country, he observed that these are essential to provide a good foundation to tax officers.