Research Associate - Direct Tax Systems Reform

Are you a legal professional, or a chartered accountant passionate about transforming India’s direct tax ecosystem? Do you want to lead research that addresses critical issues in tax administration, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance? Here is an exciting opportunity for you.

DAKSH, a Bengaluru-based think tank working at the forefront of judicial and institutional reform, is seeking a Research Associate to join our Direct Tax Systems Reform initiative.

About the Direct Tax Systems Reform Initiative

The Direct Tax Systems Reform initiative is a collaborative research and policy project aimed at addressing critical challenges in India’s tax administration—uncertainty, excessive litigation, and prolonged dispute timelines. The project seeks to diagnose structural, behavioral, and procedural bottlenecks in the direct tax ecosystem and develop evidence-based interventions that make the system fairer, more predictable, and more user-friendly.

About DAKSH

DAKSH’s work on direct tax reform builds naturally on our core mission: strengthening public institutions to be more responsive to citizens’ needs. Just as we’ve worked with courts, tribunals, and judicial institutions to identify pathways for systemic improvement, we now extend this approach to tax administration—a critical public system that directly impacts economic growth, ease of doing business, and citizen trust. Partnering with veterans from India’s income tax administration, this initiative combines DAKSH’s strengths in data-driven research, institutional analysis, and multi-stakeholder convening with deep domain expertise in tax policy and administration to create actionable reforms that serve all stakeholders in India’s direct tax ecosystem.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of tax policy and legal research and engage with stakeholders in the direct tax ecosystem and veterans from India’s income tax administration to create evidence-based pathways for reform.

This role is ideal for individuals who combine rigorous research capabilities, strong stakeholder engagement skills, and a deep interest in tax policy and institutional reform. The ability to translate complex technical issues into accessible policy recommendations and build relationships across the tax ecosystem will be critical to success.

Basic Information

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Role Title	Research Associate (3 years fixed-term)
Project	Direct Tax Systems Reform
Location	Bengaluru

Purpose of the job

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Broad objective	To support research, data collection and analysis, and stakeholder engagement for the Direct Tax Systems Reform project, working in close collaboration with veterans from tax administration

Operating Network

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Key Internal	Employees and Programme Director, veterans from tax administration
Key External	Income Tax Department officials, practitioners, industry representatives, policy researchers

Dimensions

Responsibility area	Time spent	Key responsibilities
Research & Data Analysis	50%	Conduct desk research on direct tax litigation, assessment procedures, and dispute resolution mechanisms Collect and analyse data on tax pendency, disposal rates, and appeal patterns Assist in developing case studies and sectoral analyses Maintain organised research databases and documentation
Stakeholder Engagement Support	20%	Support the organisation of thematic workshops, roundtables, and convenings Coordinate with external stakeholders, including tax practitioners, department officials, and industry representatives Document insights from stakeholder consultations and meetings Assist in building and maintaining the tax reform stakeholder network
Writing & Documentation	20%	Actively contribute to drafting of research papers, policy briefs, and knowledge products Prepare background notes for workshops and events Write blog posts, summaries, and communication materials Support development of multimedia content (video/podcast scripts) Document project activities and maintain progress reports
Project Coordination	10%	Work closely with veterans from tax administration team and Senior Research Associate Track project timelines and deliverables Provide administrative and logistical support for events and projects tasks

Education and Experience Guidelines

Responsibility area
Education Qualifications	LLB degree, OR Chartered Accountant. A degree in Public Policy would be an advantage.
Core experience	Fresh graduate or upto 2 years of demonstrable work experience in legal research, tax practice, or policy analysis Basic understanding of India's direct tax framework Strong research, data, and analytical skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English Good interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines Passion for institutional reform and evidence-based policy making
Preferable Competencies	Prior exposure to tax litigation or tax administration Experience working with legal/policy research organisations Familiarity with data analysis tools Published articles or blog posts on tax policy or legal issues Experience organising events or stakeholder workshops

How to apply

Interested candidates may apply through the form:

CV or resume containing educational qualifications and work experience

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