India - Partner In Growth
Welcome to the April 13, 2018  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 to Meet Queen, Prime Minister in Upcoming U.K. Visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to have private meetings with Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Theresa May during his visit to the U.K. for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. Modi will attend a state dinner go to a retreat in Windsor.


Make in India: Govt. Launches All-Electric High-Speed Train

The Government launched India's first all-electric superfast train, giving a boost to PM Modi's Clean India campaign. The locomotive was developed in collaboration with a French firm and built at its factory in Madhepura, a victory for the Government's Make in India priority.
 

 
Startup India: 2,711 New Startups Launched in 2017-18
 
The Government recorded 2,711 new startups launched in the 2017-18 fiscal year, a boon to the PM's Startup India program. A total of 8,625 startups were recognized in the country as of the end of March.


 
Reserve Bank Studies Launch of Own Digital Currency

The Reserve Bank of India announced a study to explore the introduction of a fiat digital currency that could be issued by the Bank. "As opposed to private digital tokens, these are issued by a central bank," Deputy Governor B. P. Kanungo said.


 
Govt. Sets Up E-Commerce Think Tank to Spur Local Players

The Government has set up a think tank to look into ways to encourage home-grown e-commerce players and develop a domestic policy to respond to doubts raised by other countries on India's stance on cross-border digital trade. 

 
HIGH-IMPACT NEWS
Why Global Firms are Moving Core Operations to India

The center of gravity of Fortune 500 companies is shifting to India. The strategies of these companies are being invented here, says Lalit Ahuja, who runs Ansr, a venture in Bengaluru that helps multinational companies establish engineering and research and development centers. It has worked with Target, J.C. Penney, Inbev and other global brands

 
Amazon and Walmart are Battling over India's Flipkart

Founded in 2007 by two former Amazon employees as an online seller of books, Flipkart was essentially envisioned as India's Amazon before Amazon came to India. It has raised well over $6 billion in the decade since its inception and has emerged as India's most valuable internet startup.


USIBC Launches Advisory Council to Strengthen Relations

With an aim to engage on important issues and policy opportunities in India, the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) has launched an India Advisory Council - a group consisting of prominent Indian and Asia-Pacific-based leaders.



DBS: India Will Continue as Favorite Destination for Foreign Investors

If Indian rates remain at attractive levels along with a stable currency, the country should see foreign investments continue to flow in, said an economist from DBS. Regarding foreign direct investment, last year's momentum has not tapered. 


DefExpo to Boost India's Defense Manufacturing Capabilities

For the first time, DefExpo -- the big defense expo underway in Chennai -- will project India's defense manufacturing capabilities to the world. Of the 671 registered exhibitors, 517 are Indian.



TRANSFORMING INDIA
How Young Indians Are Working to Spread Constitutional Literacy

Youthful members of four organizations are working to educate their fellow Indians on the country's constitution, to help make them better-informed citizens and enfranchise them in the political process.


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