2025 LBJ DC Fellow
Raj Kishore is a candidate for the Master of Public Affairs (DC Concentration) at the LBJ School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, a Bachelor of Laws, a Master of Business Administration, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Law.
Prior to graduate school, Kishore served as an Assistant and Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax in the Indian Revenue Service, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. During his tenure, he spearheaded a tax outreach initiative targeting high-income earners, engaging with over 1,000 taxpayers and contributing $33 million in additional tax revenue over three years. Concurrently, he implemented service enhancement measures that resulted in a 20% increase in taxpayer satisfaction, as confirmed by surveys.
Kishore also led an audit of a hospitality company that uncovered the creation of a fictitious enterprise used to route undisclosed earnings, identifying $10 million in unreported income. His involvement in a high-profile tax evasion case deepened his interest in criminal tax investigations and tax audits.
At the LBJ School, Kishore is honing his skills in quantitative policy analysis, with a focus on tax policy, budgeting, and fiscal administration. He is also pursuing the Dean's Certificate in State and Local Finance, which will equip him with the analytical and policy tools needed to design evidence-based policy solutions for India and beyond.
Kishore aspires to secure a Policy Apprenticeship in Washington, DC, focused on fiscal policy, tax law, and revenue generation with a public or private entity.
Policy Interests: Taxpayer service, tax audits, criminal tax investigations, and revenue generation