India - Partner In Growth
Welcome to the July 12, 2017  bulletin of key policy decisions and high-impact news, presented by the Embassy of India, Washington DC.
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KEY POLICY DECISIONS
Government to Clear FDI Proposals in Eight to Ten Weeks
The Indian government will clear all foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals that require approval within a maximum of 10 weeks. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has issued the Standard Operating Procedure in this regard. The move is aimed at improving the country's investment climate. 



One Nation, One Tax: GST
India's new ordinances, Central Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Ordinance, 2017 and the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Ordinance, 2017 which came into effect from 8th July, 2017, have made GST truly a " one nation, one tax" regime.   

 

Finance Minister Launches 'Aaykar Setu,' Income Taxpayer e-Service 
Finance Minister  Arun Jaitley launched Aaykar Setu, a new income taxpayer e-service program, to enable the Income Tax Department (ITD) to directly communicate with taxpayers. The program includes tools such as live chat, dynamic updates and links to different processes within the ITD.

 

India Launches Online Bidding Portal for Coal-Based Power Producers
The Ministry of Power launched an online bidding portal to generate greater efficiencies for domestic coal utilization by independent power producers. The government also announced the Merit Order Dispatch of Electricity for Rejuvenation of Income and Transparency (MERIT) app, which will allow consumers to better assess power distribution companies' performance.

 

'Jigyasa' Student Program to Spark Scientific Curiosity
Scientists of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratories will double up as teachers and science demonstrators to at least 50,000 students within the next year as part of Jigyasa, a student-scientist connect program. Launched by the government, the goal of Jigyasa is to draw more students to careers in scientific research. 

 
HIGH-IMPACT NEWS
Modi Meets Top World Leaders at G20 Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met top world leaders including US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. Modi also participated in sessions on Partnership with Africa, Migration and Health, and Digitalization, Women's Empowerment and Employment.

 

Indian President Mukherjee's Message on Fourth of July
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, extended his best wishes to the government and people of the US on the eve of America's Independence Day, July 4. In his message, President Mukherjee sent his congratulations, saying, "The strategic partnership between our two nations, the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy, is based on shared values and the growing convergence of our strategic interests." 


UNESCO Names Ahmedabad India's First World Heritage City
India's walled city of Ahmedabad, founded more than 600 years ago, was declared India's first World Heritage City by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The designation recognizes the walled city's unique history and places Ahmedabad within the ranks of other heritage cities like Paris, Cairo and Edinburgh. 



Wipro Increases US Presence, Hires More American Workers
IT firm Wipro hired more than 1,600 employees over the past six months, bringing its total workforce in the US to more than 14,000, more than half of which are local American workers. During the past decade, Wipro has invested more than $2 billion in the US, creating 40 facilities across 23 states.   



India Launches Communication Satellite GSAT-17
India's latest communication satellite GSAT-17 was successfully launched by an Arianespace heavy duty rocket. GSAT-17 will strengthen the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) current fleet of 17 telecommunications satellites and is the third satellite launch by ISRO this month.