Tax and creativity

With tax filing deadline approaching soon, I wanted to know how are people saving taxes and what are the best things to ask while joining a company to avoid tax. These are few things I have heard, in case anyone has done this please enlighten.

1. Join full time but be a on-paper Consultant and get taxed at 10%
2. Ask for higher component of HRA
3. Ask for higher amount on books and periodicals (how does this help)
4. Political party play (Though this is evasion I belive) 😅

Any ideas with approximate amount you can save? Or any risky tax saving which worked out?