India - Partner In Growth
Welcome to the September 28, 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
PM Modi: 'Saubhagya' Program to Bring Power, 'Monumental Change' to Poor 
The Government's new "Saubhagya" initiative, which seeks to supply electricity to all households by Dec. 2018, will bring "monumental change" to the life of the country's poor, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative also aims to improve public health, education and the environment in local communities.



India Launches 'Mudra' Campaign Promoting Microfinance, Enterprise
Beginning Sept. 27, India's Finance Ministry will launch its national "Mudra" campaign, holding events and speeches from Bengaluru to Bhopal until Oct. 17. The campaign's objective is to develop the country's microenterprise industry and financial support systems to ultimately "fund the unfunded."


 
Central Government Hands Management of Three Hotels to States 
In a deal announced last week, India's government will hand over management of three India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) hotels to the properties' respective state governments. Rajasthan will manage the Hotel Jaipur Ashok; Karnataka, the Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel; and Arunachal Pradesh, the Donyi Polo Ashok Hotel.


 
Minister to Unveil Rehabilitated Highways in Andhra Pradesh
India's Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari, will next week unveil completed national highway projects and discuss developing future projects - together totaling nearly $700 million - in Andhra Pradesh. He will inaugurate approximately 260 miles of highway and begin plans for rehabilitating another 155 miles.


 
India Launches 'PENCIL' Portal to Fight Child Labor 
Home Minister Rajnath Singh recently launched the Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labor (PENCIL) online portal to support India's National Child Labor Project. PENCIL will connect the central, state and local governments and provide systems to monitor compliance and enforce the country's child labor laws. 


 
HIGH-IMPACT NEWS
Sushma Swaraj Addresses UN General Assembly  
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj spoke at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this weekend, focusing on progress the country has made under Prime Minister Narendra Modi - from the Goods and Services tax to the "Beti Bachao Beti Padhaoi" welfare program. She also discussed the challenges and dangers posed by terrorism.

 
 
Jim Mattis Makes First Official Visit to India as Defense Secretary
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrived in India for his first official visit to the country as a member of the Trump administration. He will focus on coordinating US-Indo efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and discuss bilateral defense engagement. 


'Road to GES' Event Held in Run-Up to Global Summit
The Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), set to take place in Hyderabad from Nov. 28 to 30, will promote "a world where innovation meets industry" with government facilitation, said Anna Roy of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog at the recent "Road to GES" event. She added that last year's GES had 1,000 participants and hopes to see 1,500 attend this year's event. 
     


Chief Economic Adviser Subramanian's Term Extended for One Year
Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser to India's Finance Ministry, will remain in office for another year, until Oct. 2018. Appointed in 2014, Subramanian's term would have ended in Oct. 2017; he will continue working with the Modi government to advance policy reforms and economic progress.



Japan to Invest $4.5 Billion in Delhi-Mumbai Transportation Project
Japan's International Cooperation Agency announced it will provide $4.5 billion for the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project and develop mass rapid transit systems in Gujarat and Haryana. The DMIC project spans six states and aims to advance India's goal of being "a global manufacturing and investment destination." 




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