The taxation authorities have decided to extend the deadline for e-filing of IT returns in the country to 31 August in the wake of two consecutive power failures this week that affected millions of people in the North and Eastern part of the country.

The authorities have said that the move is aimed at those who are liable to file tax returns by July 31. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has said that it is mandatory for individuals with income over Rs 10 lakh to file returns online.

At present, Business houses with receipts of Rs 60 lakh and professionals with income of Rs 15 lakh must file returns on the internet with digital signature. There were 19,684,592 tax payers who had registered for e-filing as of March 31, 2012.

A official press release read, "On consideration of the reports of disturbance of general life caused due to failure of power and further in consideration of the fact that the e-filing of returns for a specified category of individuals and Hindu Undivided Family has been made mandatory, CBDT has extended the `due date' of filing of returns to August 31, 2012."

A major power grid failure affected the northern Indian region once again on Tuesday afternoon after similar failure residents on the early hours of Monday uptill Tuesday morning. Power Ministry officials have said that the Eastern Grid had also failed adding to the problems faced by the people in the northern part of the country. Reports have said that ten states have been affected by the power outage.

A major electricity grid failure, which was the worst in a decade, resulted in a black in various states in Northern India on Monday. Estimate show that more than 300 million people were without power in the national capital Delhi as well as several other states in the region on Monday morning. The electricity supply was cut in Delhi and seven states in the early hours and was restored only in the morning.