Atal Bihari Vajpayee was not only a politician and Prime Minister, he was the conscience-keeper of India’s democracy and a statesman who taught the nation how to combine courage with compassion, conviction with inclusiveness, and nationalism with humanity. His impeccable legacy continues to inspire the transformational changes being carried forward by the Modi govt.
Vajpayee’s life remains a guiding light for all those who believe that governance can be effective, corruption-free, and rooted in concern for the common man. Appropriately, his birthday, Dec 25, is observed as Good Governance Day.
His decency, simplicity, sensitivity and poetry endeared him to people across generations. I have fond childhood memories of his regular stays at our Mumbai home.
One afternoon, while I was playing marbles in the living room, he noticed me struggling to hit a marble. Sitting beside me, he placed his palm on his knee and accurately flicked a marble with his index finger to strike the target nearly eight feet away. I was awestruck. That moment forged an intimate bond with ‘Chachaji’, as we children called him.

As a school-going boy, I had gone to the airport tarmac to meet him as he embarked on a four-day tour of western Maharashtra. When he learnt my holidays had started, he invited me to accompany him. I was completely unprepared, yet Chachaji ensured I was comfortable – buying me Kolhapuri chappals and clothes at the first stop.
I remember a speech he delivered in Sangli honouring the legendary Lata Mangeshkar. For nearly an hour, Vajpayee mesmerised the audience with his reflections on Indian culture, tradition and music-without a word of politics. It reminds one of PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat, which similarly rises above politics to engage with society at large.

Vajpayee was a deeply grounded leader, rooted in India’s civilisational ethos. He was the first Indian leader to address the UN General Assembly in Hindi, a precedent later followed by PM Modi, who uses the national language not only at multilateral forums but even while addressing leaders of English-speaking nations.
His legacy continues to inspire us. In my constituency of North Mumbai, a successful Skill Development and Job Center is named after him. This year’s budget provided for setting up 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in govt schools to encourage innovation and a scientific temper.

His philosophy of strength – India conducted nuclear tests during his tenure – tempered with sensitivity is visible today in PM Modi’s governance, where decisive action to strengthen national security goes hand in hand with compassion through initiatives such as free homes, toilets, foodgrains, cooking gas connections, healthcare coverage, and direct benefit transfers.

In his I-Day address in 2000, Vajpayee declared, “To reform is to improve the life of every citizen. There is no scope for apprehension or fear about economic reforms.”

His govt undertook far-reaching reforms in banking, telecom, insurance, pensions and disinvestment of sick PSUs, while simultaneously expanding social initiatives such as universal primary education and Antyodaya Anna Yojana, which provided highly subsidised foodgrains to the poorest households. PM Modi is taking these, and other transformational initiatives forward in a mission mode as Reform Express.

Vajpayee clearly understood that enduring national strength rests on robust infrastructure. Landmark initiatives such as the Golden Quadrilateral and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana transformed connectivity, integrated markets, and brought remote regions into the national mainstream.

These initiatives laid the foundation for India’s present-day infrastructure transformation. It was Vajpayee who recognised the strategic importance of a tunnel connecting Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh and J&K. PM Modi fittingly named it the Atal Tunnel, honouring the visionary.

For BJP, Vajpayee is special – a founding member and its first president. In the party’s first national convention in 1980 he prophetically said, “Andhera chhatega, sooraj niklega, kamal khilega” (Darkness will disappear, the sun will rise, the lotus – BJP’s symbol – will bloom).

For BJP, he is not merely a leader of the past, he is a moral compass for the present and future. Under PM Modi’s leadership, India is fulfilling many of the aspirations he envisioned-a confident, self-reliant nation that commands respect across the world.

The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) represents a strategic leap in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trade diplomacy — one that accelerates job creation, boosts investment, and opens transformative opportunities for small businesses, students, women, farmers, and youth across India.

Announced jointly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon, this agreement is the seventh FTA negotiated by the Modi government and the third major trade pact concluded in 2025, following landmark, win-win agreements with the United Kingdom and Oman. Significantly, all these FTAs are with developed economies with substantially higher per-capita incomes than India, underscoring India’s growing strength and credibility in global trade negotiations.

Each agreement has been negotiated after extensive consultations with all stakeholders, ensuring balanced outcomes and genuine win-win engagement with the developed world.

Jobs, Growth and Market Access
A central pillar of this FTA is job creation. New Zealand will provide zero-duty access to 100% of Indian exports, delivering a major boost to India’s labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather, apparel, footwear, marine products, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, and engineering goods. This directly benefits Indian workers, artisans, women entrepreneurs, youth, and MSMEs.

India has also secured its best-ever market access and services offer, covering 118 services sectors, including telecommunications, construction, IT, financial services, travel, and tourism. This expanded access will generate large-scale employment and new growth avenues for Indian professionals and businesses.

Opportunities for Professionals, Students and Youth
The agreement provides improved entry and stay provisions for Indian professionals and students. It enables work opportunities during studies, post-study employment, and a structured working-holiday visa framework.

STEM graduates and post-graduates can now work for up to three years, while doctoral scholars can work for four years, creating unprecedented global exposure and career pathways for India’s youth. A new Temporary Employment Entry Visa further supports skilled Indian professionals seeking international opportunities.

Farmers to Flourish
Prime Minister Modi’s vision is clear: Indian farmers must play a meaningful role on the global stage. The FTA reflects this commitment.

The agreement establishes an Agricultural Productivity Partnership covering apples, kiwi, and honey, aimed at enhancing domestic productivity and increasing farmer incomes. New Zealand has also committed to GI-level protection for Basmati rice, offering strong support to Indian rice farmers.

Crucially, India has ensured that sensitive sectors such as rice, dairy, wheat, soya, and other key agricultural products remain fully protected, with no market opening that could harm domestic livelihoods.

Innovative FTAs and Investment Commitments
India’s FTAs today go well beyond tariff reductions. They are instruments to unlock new opportunities for farmers, MSMEs, women, and youth, while safeguarding national interests.

With various trade agreements, Indian exports benefit from immediate or rapid tariff elimination, while India’s own market opening remains calibrated and gradual. New Zealand has committed Foreign Direct Investment of USD 20 billion over the next 15 years, mirroring the innovative investment-linked provisions in India’s FTA with EFTA countries—Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

For New Zealand, this marks a giant leap in Foreign Direct Investment in India. Over the past 25 years, New Zealand invested about ₹643 crore in India. The new commitment—approximately ₹1.8 lakh crore over 15 years—represents a dramatic expansion, backed by a clawback mechanism if investment targets are not met.

Much of this investment will support agriculture, dairy, MSMEs, education, sports, and youth development, ensuring broad-based and inclusive growth.

India’s First Women-Led FTA
This agreement also marks a historic milestone: it is India’s first women-led FTA. Almost the entire negotiating team—from the chief negotiator and deputy chief negotiator to leads for goods, services, investment, and our ambassador to New Zealand—comprised women. Our women of substance are increasingly playing leadership roles in the PM’s development agenda.

India’s FTA Strategy
The India–New Zealand FTA exemplifies India’s clear strategy: partnering with developed economies that open their markets to India’s labour-intensive industries without competing unfairly with Indian products.

Trade agreements under the Modi government are not transactional—they are part of a broader mission to strengthen the economy and improve the lives of Indians, especially the poorest of the poor. This strategy has transformed India from being labelled among the “Fragile Five” in 2014 to becoming an engine of global growth and a preferred partner for trade and investment worldwide.

Today, India negotiates from a position of confidence and strength, ensuring that agriculture, dairy, and other sensitive sectors are fully protected, and that agreements are signed only when they deliver mutual benefit.

Refreshing Change in Trade Governance
India’s current approach stands in sharp contrast to the past. Earlier trade strategies recklessly exposed Indian markets to low-cost imports, endangered small businesses and jobs — often without adequate consultation. The decisive leadership of Prime Minister Modi has restored India’s stature, credibility, and negotiating power on the global stage.
The India–New Zealand FTA, applauded across Indian industry, is a product of this refreshing change in governance since 2014.

By integrating goods, services, investment, and mobility—while safeguarding national interests—the agreement reflects India’s modern, inclusive, and balanced trade diplomacy. As India and New Zealand deepen economic integration, this FTA demonstrates how trade can unlock markets while delivering human-centric growth and shared prosperity across borders.

Union commerce minister argues trade pact with UK will not just make India a major exporter to Britain and benefit Indian companies, it will also increase incomes in farming & fishing communities

The landmark India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will make Indian farmers, fishermen, artisans and small businesses shine globally, create numerous jobs and help the common man get high-quality goods at competitive rates in line with PM’s vision.

This follows similar agreements with other developed countries including Australia, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries and UAE. It is a part of Modi govt’s strategy to maximise economic growth and job creation to achieve the dream of Viksit Bharat 2047.

GOI strategy | In 2014, Modi govt adopted a determined strategy to rebuild global confidence in the Indian economy and make it attractive for Indian and foreign investors. Signing FTAs with developed countries is a part of this wider strategy. FTAs also increase investor confidence by removing uncertainty about trade policies.

FTAs with developed countries, which do not have competing trade interests with India, are a win-win situation, unlike the previous govt’s approach of endangering Indian businesses by recklessly opening India’s doors to competitors.

In UPA’s term, developed countries had abandoned trade talks with India, then regarded as one of the world’s ‘Fragile Five’ economies. Under PM’s leadership, India’s GDP has almost tripled since 2014 to about ₹331L cr. Game-changing reforms, ease of doing business and PM’s global stature helped India emerge as a compelling opportunity. Today, the world wants to participate in the India story – and sign FTAs.

Market access, competitive edge | CETA will ensure comprehensive market access for Indian goods in the UK market across sectors. It eliminates tariffs on about 99% of tariff lines covering almost 100% of trade value. This creates huge opportunities for the $56bn bilateral trade that’s estimated to double by 2030 with CETA’s help.

Small businesses will prosper as Indian products will have a clear competitive edge over rivals. Companies that make soccer balls, cricket gear, rugby balls and toys, among other products, are poised to significantly expand business in UK.

Numerous jobs | India’s competitiveness will boost exports substantially and trigger a wave of investment and job creation. India is well-positioned to become one of the top three suppliers to UK in textiles, leather, and footwear, which will help small businesses, artisans including women, and craftsmen emerge as key players in global value chains. Gems & jewellery, engineering goods, chemicals and electronic products such as phones are also expected to see exports jump.

Farmers first | Over 95% of agricultural and processed food tariff lines will attract zero duty, paving the way for rapid rise in agri-exports and rural prosperity. Duty-free market access is estimated to increase agri-exports by over 20% in three years, contributing to India’s goal of $100bn agri-exports by 2030 as CETA unlocks the premium UK market for Indian farmers, matching or exceeding benefits enjoyed by Germany, Netherlands, and other EU nations.

Turmeric, pepper, cardamom, and processed goods like mango pulp, pickles, and pulses will also get dutyfree access. Higher exports will boost farm income and give greater incentives for quality, packaging and certification. It will create numerous jobs across the agricultural value chain.

Protecting the vulnerable | CETA excludes India’s most sensitive agri sectors to protect domestic farmers. India has given no tariff concessions on dairy products, apples, oats and cooking oils. These exclusions reflect Modi govt’s strategy of prioritising food security, domestic price stability, and vulnerable farming communities.

Fishermen to flourish | Indian fishermen, particularly those in Andhra, Odisha, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, will see dramatic expansion through access to UK’s marine import market. UK’s import duty on shrimp and other marine products will fall to zero from the current level of up to 20%. The potential is phenomenal as India has only 2.25% of UK’s $5.4bn marine imports.

Services & professionals | The agreement will catalyse services including IT/ITeS, financial services and education, creating new avenues for Indians. India has secured favourable mobility provisions for skilled professionals, including contractual service providers, business travellers, investors, yoga instructors, musicians and chefs.

Innovative FTAs | Under PM’s leadership, India’s FTAs go far beyond goods and services. They set new benchmarks. With EFTA countries, India had secured a guarantee of $100bn investment that will create 1mn direct jobs in India. With the Australian FTA, India resolved the double-taxation issue troubling IT companies.

One of the most significant aspects of the agreement with UK is the Double Contribution Convention. This exempts employers and temporary Indian workers in UK from social security contributions for three years. This will significantly enhance the competitiveness of Indian service providers.

Quality goods | Trade agreements increase competition, which helps Indian consumers get high-quality goods at competitive prices. Modi govt has provided policy support, issued Quality Control Orders and negotiated FTAs to encourage and incentivise quality.

GOI has held extensive stakeholder consultation with industry and other stakeholders before signing any FTA. It is heartening to note that industry bodies have overwhelmingly supported and welcomed every FTA signed by Modi govt.

CETA is a benchmark for equitable and ambitious trade deals between large economies. It opens up attractive global opportunities for the underprivileged, without compromising our core interests. It is a shining example of how New India does business.

पीयूष गोयल के अनुसार भारत और ब्रिटेन के बीच एक ऐतिहासिक मुक्त व्यापार समझौता हुआ है जिससे रोजगार के अवसर बढ़ेंगे और भारतीय व्यवसायों को वैश्विक पहचान मिलेगी। यह समझौता मोदी सरकार की 2047 तक भारत को विकसित बनाने की रणनीति का हिस्सा है। समझौते से कृषि निर्यात में वृद्धि होगी किसानों को लाभ होगा और सूचना प्रौद्योगिकी जैसे क्षेत्रों में नए अवसर उत्पन्न होंगे।

पीयूष गोयल। भारत और ब्रिटेन के बीच ऐतिहासिक मुक्त व्यापार समझौते यानी एफटीए पर सहमति बन गई है। भारत-यूके व्यापक आर्थिक एवं व्यापार समझौता (सीईटीए) के अस्तित्व में आने से रोजगार के असंख्य अवसर सृजित होंगे। भारतीय किसानों, मछुआरों, कारीगरों और व्यवसायों को नई वैश्विक पहचान मिलेगी। उच्च गुणवत्ता वाली वस्तुओं की किफायती दरों पर पहुंच भी सुनिश्चित होगी।

सीईटीए की संकल्पना आस्ट्रेलिया, संयुक्त अरब अमीरात और कुछ अन्य देशों के साथ हुए मुक्त व्यापार समझौतों के अनुरूप ही है। यह मोदी सरकार की भारत को 2047 तक विकसित बनाने की संकल्पना से जुड़ी रणनीति का एक हिस्सा है।

मोदी सरकार ने भारतीय अर्थव्यवस्था में वैश्विक विश्वास को फिर से स्थापित करने तथा इसे भारतीय और विदेशी निवेशकों के लिए आकर्षक बनाने के लिए एक दृढ़ रणनीति अपनाई है। विकसित देशों के साथ एफटीए इस रणनीति के केंद्र में है। ऐसे समझौते व्यापार नीतियों से जुड़ी अनिश्चितताओं को दूर करके निवेशकों का विश्वास बढ़ाते हैं।

पिछली यूपीए सरकार ने भारत के दरवाजे प्रतिद्वंद्वी देशों के लिए खोलकर भारतीय व्यवसायों को खतरे में डालने वाला रवैया अपनाया था। यूपीए सरकार में विकसित देश भारत के साथ व्यापार समझौते के अनिच्छुक थे, क्योंकि तब देश की गिनती दुनिया की पांच नाजुक अर्थव्यवस्थाओं में होने लगी थी। वहीं, प्रधानमंत्री मोदी के नेतृत्व में आर्थिकी की काया ही पलट गई। भारत का सकल घरेलू उत्पाद 2014 से लगभग तिगुना बढ़कर लगभग 331 लाख करोड़ रुपये हो गया है।

क्रांतिकारी सुधारों, कारोबारी सुगमता और प्रधानमंत्री के वैश्विक व्यक्तित्व ने भारत को एक आकर्षक आर्थिक गंतव्य के रूप में उभारने में मदद की है, जहां विपुल संभावनाएं हैं। आज दुनिया भारत की अद्भुत विकासगाथा का हिस्सा बनना चाहती है। प्रमुख देशों द्वारा एक के बाद एक एफटीए इसी मान्यता की पुष्टि करते हैं।

ब्रिटेन के साथ यह व्यापार समझौता बाजार पहुंच और प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक बढ़त दिलाएगा। यह करीब 99 प्रतिशत टैरिफ समाप्त करता है, जो लगभग शत प्रतिशत व्यापार मूल्य को कवर करता है। यह 56 अरब डॉलर के द्विपक्षीय व्यापार के लिए अपार अवसर बनाएगा, जिसके 2030 तक दोगुना होने का अनुमान है। इससे छोटे व्यवसाय समृद्ध होंगे, क्योंकि भारतीय उत्पादों को प्रतिद्वंद्वियों पर प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक बढ़त हासिल होगी।

खेल उपकरण बनाने वाली कंपनियों के कारोबार में भारी विस्तार होगा। विश्व के एक आकर्षक बाजार में भारत की प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक बढ़त चमड़ा और जूते, वस्त्र, समुद्री उत्पाद और रत्न एवं आभूषण जैसे श्रम-प्रधान क्षेत्रों के लिए मददगार साबित होगी।

इन क्षेत्रों में, जहां कई छोटे व्यवसाय संचालित होते हैं, निवेश और रोजगार सृजन के अवसर पैदा होंगे। भारत के चमड़ा और जूता निर्यात में भारी वृद्धि होने की उम्मीद है। भारत वस्त्र, चमड़ा और जूते के क्षेत्र में ब्रिटेन के शीर्ष तीन आपूर्तिकर्ताओं में से एक बनने की बेहतर स्थिति में है।

इस समझौते के बाद 95 प्रतिशत से अधिक कृषि और प्रसंस्कृत खाद्य टैरिफ लाइनों पर शून्य शुल्क लगेगा, जिससे कृषि निर्यात और ग्रामीण समृद्धि में तेज वृद्धि का मार्ग प्रशस्त होगा। इससे अगले तीन वर्षों में कृषि निर्यात में 20 प्रतिशत से अधिक की वृद्धि का अनुमान है, जो 2030 तक भारत के 100 अरब डालर के कृषि-निर्यात के लक्ष्य को पूरा करने में योगदान देगा।

इससे भारतीय किसानों के लिए प्रीमियम ब्रिटिश बाजार के द्वार खुलेंगे, जो जर्मनी, नीदरलैंड और अन्य यूरोपीय संघ के देशों को मिलने वाले फायदे के बराबर या उससे भी अधिक होगा। हल्दी, काली मिर्च, इलायची, प्रसंस्कृत उत्पादों, अचार और दालों को भी शुल्क-मुक्त पहुंच मिलेगी। निर्यात बढ़ने से कृषि आय में वृद्धि होगी तथा गुणवत्ता, पैकेजिंग और प्रमाणन के लिए अधिक प्रोत्साहन मिलेगा। इससे कृषि मूल्य शृंखला में रोजगार के असंख्य अवसर सृजित होंगे।

घरेलू किसानों की सुरक्षा के लिए एफटीए में भारत के सबसे संवेदनशील कृषि क्षेत्रों को बाहर रखा गया है। भारत ने डेरी उत्पादों, सेब, जई और खाद्य तेलों पर कोई शुल्क रियायत नहीं दी है। यह मोदी सरकार की खाद्य सुरक्षा, मूल्य स्थिरता और कमजोर कृषक समुदायों को प्राथमिकता देने की रणनीति को दर्शाता है।

समझौते से भारतीय मछुआरों, विशेष रूप से आंध्र प्रदेश, ओडिशा, केरल और तमिलनाडु के मछुआरों की ब्रिटिश बाजार में पहुंच सुगम होगी। यह समझौता सूचना प्रौद्योगिकी एवं संबंधित सेवाओं, वित्तीय सेवा और शिक्षा सहित अन्य सेवाओं में भारतीयों के लिए नए अवसर बनाएगा।

प्रधानमंत्री मोदी के नेतृत्व में भारत के एफटीए वस्तुओं और सेवाओं से कहीं आगे तक जाते हैं। आस्ट्रेलियाई एफटीए के साथ भारत ने दोहरे कराधान का मुद्दा सुलझाया, जो आईटी कंपनियों की परेशानी बढ़ा रहा था। ब्रिटेन के साथ समझौते का एक अहम बिंदु दोहरे अंशदान से जुड़ा है। यह ब्रिटेन में नियोक्ताओं, अस्थायी भारतीय कर्मियों को तीन वर्षों के लिए सामाजिक सुरक्षा अंशदान से छूट देता है। इससे भारतीय सेवा प्रदाताओं की प्रतिस्पर्धा बढ़ेगी।

व्यापार समझौते प्रतिस्पर्धा बढ़ाते हैं, जिससे भारतीय उपभोक्ताओं को प्रतिस्पर्धी कीमतों पर उच्च-गुणवत्ता वाली वस्तुएं प्राप्त करने में मदद मिलती है। मोदी सरकार ने गुणवत्ता को प्रोत्साहित करने और बढ़ावा देने के लिए नीतिगत समर्थन प्रदान किया है। गुणवत्ता नियंत्रण आदेश जारी किए हैं और मुक्त व्यापार समझौतों पर बात आगे बढ़ाई है।

सरकार ने किसी भी मुक्त व्यापार समझौते पर हस्ताक्षर से पहले उद्योग जगत और अन्य हितधारकों के साथ गहन परामर्श किया है। यह जानकर खुशी होती है कि उद्योग जगत ने इन व्यापार समझौतों का व्यापक रूप से समर्थन एवं स्वागत किया है। इसी कड़ी में ब्रिटेन के साथ यह समझौता बड़ी अर्थव्यवस्थाओं के बीच न्यायसंगत और महत्वाकांक्षी व्यापार समझौतों के लिए एक मानक है।

यह हमारे मूल हितों से समझौता किए बिना, वंचित समुदायों के लिए आकर्षक वैश्विक अवसरों के द्वार खोलता है। यह इस बात का एक प्रखर उदाहरण भी है कि नया भारत व्यापार किस प्रकार करता है।

The platform has helped to weed out corruption and provide business opportunities to startups, MSMEs, women and businesses in small towns.

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has rapidly emerged as a world leader in providing a transparent, inclusive and efficient platform for public procurement. It connects more than 1.6 lakh government buyers with 23 lakh sellers and service providers, becoming a key engine of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

In nine years since PM Modi launched the transformative digital initiative, GeM has revolutionised the way government buys goods and services by weeding out corruption and giving business opportunities to startups, MSMEs, women and businesses in small towns.

The user-friendly platform is a true gem that has replaced the notorious directorate general of supplies and disposals, which had opaque and uncompetitive systems that gave an unfair advantage to a privileged few. Befittingly, the commerce and industry ministry’s new office, Vanijya Bhawan, has been built on land once occupied by this obsolete body.

Since its inception in 2016, orders worth more than ₹13.4 lakh crore have been transacted on the GeM portal. Public procurement via the platform rose to a record ₹5.43 lakh crore in 2024-25. GeM aims to raise its annual business to ₹7 lakh crore in the current fiscal. GeM has undoubtedly emerged as a technological behemoth in the public procurement landscape. The magnitude of business transacted is likely to make it the world’s largest public procurement portal, surpassing well-established institutions like South Korea’s KONEPS, in the near future.

GeM has given greater opportunities to honest businesses, created jobs, and supported India’s economic growth. In this context, GeM’s significance goes far beyond its phenomenal growth in financial terms. GeM also serves as a critical engine of equitable growth in line with PM Modi’s mission of sabka saath, sabka vikaas. It provides startups, small businesses and women-led enterprises an easy path to showcase their products and services to government buyers without any intermediaries. By eliminating barriers to entry, the platform empowers small, home-grown businesses to participate in e-tenders and expand their businesses.

Guided by the principle of inclusivity, GeM has incorporated various strategic initiatives to support the growth of small businesses. These include systems to help government buyers identify and select products and services offered by MSEs and women-led businesses.

Dedicated storefronts on GeM like Startup Runway and Womaniya have effectively increased the visibility of these businesses as well as their share in public procurement. This has helped the government meet and exceed its goals of 25% procurement from Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) and 3% from women-led businesses. Nearly 38% of the business transacted on GeM is awarded to MSEs, and procurement from women enterprises stands at nearly 4%.

As of April 2025, more than 30,000 startups have conducted business worth over ₹38,500 crore through GeM. Further, 181,000 Udyam-verified women entrepreneurs have secured orders worth nearly ₹50,000 crore on the GeM portal.

These changes have translated into savings ranging from 33% to 96% for certain order sizes. This remarkable reduction is a welcome change in line with the government’s mission to enhance Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living for the benefit of the citizens of the country.

An independent evaluation by the World Bank shows that buyers on GeM save about 9.75% on the median price. This has led to huge savings of an estimated ₹1.15 lakh crore in public procurement using taxpayer money. GeM procurement helped state-run NTPC save ₹2,000 crore using reverse auction in a ₹20,000-crore contract. GeM has also helped transparent and cost-effective procurement of defence equipment, vaccines, drones and services like insurance.

In a major relief to small enterprises, GeM has significantly reduced its transaction charges recently. Orders exceeding ₹10 lakh will incur lower transaction charge of 0.30%, while orders worth over ₹10 crore will incur a capped fee of ₹3 lakh — a significant decrease from the previous ₹72.50 lakh.

With a robust technological infrastructure, the platform is continuously evolving by offering new and easier ways to do business using technological solutions. GeM has deployed an AI-powered chatbot called GeMAI, a tool trained in conversational analytics and business intelligence. The smart chatbot is available in eight vernacular languages and is equipped with latest technologies including voice command functionality to further enhance Ease of Doing Business on GeM portal.

GeM also offers financing products for MSE sellers. This gives collateral-free financing in less than 10 minutes for eligible purchase orders. The platform has introduced GeM Sahay 2.0, which serves as a single window to secure loans up to ₹10 lakh. More initiatives and technological solutions are in the works to make the platform more inclusive and competitive.

The GeM portal stands as a pivotal engine in driving India’s economic growth and development objectives of PM Modi. It will always run the extra mile to empower and uplift the marginalised sections of the society and promote entrepreneurship, while ensuring that taxpayer money is efficiently used to procure high-quality products at a competitive price.

Minister of commerce argues, in the context of a startup meet today, GOI’s supporting policies for entrepreneurship are creating a culture where new ideas and R&D are becoming the norm.

After the success of Mahakumbh at Prayagraj sangam, it’s time to celebrate the confluence of three streams of development – innovation, job creation and entrepreneurship, carrying forward PM’s vision of vikas (development) and virasat (heritage) for a vibrant India.

The three streams will converge at Startup Mahakumbh on April 3. Like the spiritual gathering at Prayagraj, Startup Mahakumbh is being organised on a grand and global scale.

The event will bring together over 3,000 startups, 1,000+ investors, 500+ speakers, and more than 15k delegates and business visitors from across the globe, with participation from over 50 countries. It will be a powerful platform for startups to explore collaborations, mentorship, funding, and access to new markets. With masterclasses, knowledge sessions, and networking forums, the event will not only fuel innovation but also inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to launch their own ventures.

Also, a three-tier investor-led jury process will select 150 finalists in what will be India’s largest private sector funded Grand Innovation Challenge with a ₹50cr prize pool.

Innovation | Be it the game of chess or the concept of ‘zero’ in ancient India, or UPI, Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan of today, innovation has always been a part of the Indian DNA. New ideas, innovative goods and services achieved through healthy R&D will propel India in its mission to become a developed country by 2047. Appropriately, the theme of the event is Startup India @2047.

In his Independence Day speech in 2015, PM articulated his vision of making India a global startup hub and transforming the country into a nation of job creators. Shortly thereafter, the Startup India initiative was launched.

It has unleashed a groundswell of youthful energy that’s transforming India’s entrepreneurial landscape. The number of registered startups has risen exponentially from just about 500 in 2016 to about 1.7L now. These ventures are spread across more than 55 sectors including fintech, deeptech, edtech, nanotech, biotech, space tech, agri tech and health tech, helping India emerge as a cradle of major tech-driven entrepreneurship.

GOI is also taking initiatives to support funding of startups. Last year’s budget abolished Angel Tax, a move applauded by new entrepreneurs. This year, the budget launched a new ₹10k cr Fund of Funds.

Jobs & solutions | Govt registered startups have created 17.69L direct jobs as on Jan 31, 2025. They’re providing cutting-edge solutions to real-world challenges. Revolutionising breast cancer detection with non-invasive, AI-powered thermal imaging tech; simplifying rural trading by connecting farmers directly with buyers; providing affordable and efficient payment gateway solutions; creating ecofriendly products that convert waste to wealth; securing cyberspace are but a few among several examples of challenges addressed by our startups for India and the world.

Indian startups are nimble and quick-footed. During the pandemic, startups that had developed strong analytical solutions, drones, telecom platforms etc quickly pivoted to leverage these technologies for contact tracing, quarantine monitoring, and developing dashboards for war rooms. They played a key role in producing critical equipment such as PPE kits, ventilators, and sample collection products and services.

Entrepreneurial culture | The Startup India initiative has significantly transformed the country’s entrepreneurial mindset. Where once families sought the comfort of a secured job, today they encourage and take deep pride in entrepreneurial adventures of their young family members. This is driving our energetic youth to become job creators instead of job-seekers.

Ventures born out of such energy are scaling new heights. The number of Indian unicorns having more than $1bn valuation has jumped from less than 10 before 2016 to more than 110 today, with a collective valuation of over $385bn, according to industry estimates.

Support in public procurement | Our govt has made special provision of preferential treatment for eligible startups in the Govt e-Marketplace (GeM). This platform gives sellers transparent and corruption-free access to procurement by govt departments, thereby helping entrepreneurs bypass complex procedures and entrenched vested interests that operated before its launch.

GeM has enabled 29,780 govt-registered startups to fulfil 4,09,155 orders worth ₹37,460cr with the help of democratised market access, easy product listing and relaxation in the requirements of turnover and experience in public procurement.

Beacons of New Bharat | Today, startups are beacons of hope of New Bharat. The thriving startup ecosystem is transforming the Indian economy to enhance ‘Ease of Living’ for our citizens. Prayagraj Mahakumbh showcased India’s spiritual grandeur to the world and made our youth proudly embrace our culture, heritage and beliefs. The startup ecosystem built and nurtured by PM is helping youth embrace the entrepreneurial culture that’ll make Bharat a global powerhouse of innovation, new tech and new ideas.

India’s transformation from an economy weakened by a decade of mismanagement under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to a rare, sought-after bright spot in today’s tumultuous world is a result of various effective policies, including the flagship Make in India initiative. It was launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi 10 years ago to reinvigorate job creation and stimulate economic growth.

The Make in India mission has delivered results that make the country a favoured investment destination. As PM Modi said, it is a roaring success that has made India the focus of global attention and curiosity. It has empowered businesses, especially MSMEs, to produce high-quality goods and transformed several sectors from being importers of sub-standard products to exporters of high-quality goods.

An example of this transformation is toy manufacturing, which has seen a 239% jump in exports while imports have halved. This has helped local manufacturers and sellers, and of course, the children, who were earlier exposed to hazardous, low-quality toys that were imported.

India’s journey has been exciting, and the future looks even more promising. The wide array of policies initiated by the Modi government to encourage investments and provide high-quality goods and services is now bearing fruit.

This exciting journey began from a precarious position. The scam-scarred UPA government had inherited a robust economy with strong macroeconomic fundamentals, but it left behind a mess that made citizens anxious and businesses pessimistic. The economy was in a state of disarray, plagued by high inflation, slow growth, an unstable rupee, vulnerable banking system and a neglected manufacturing sector. On top of that, the UPA government faced a series of corruption scandals involving mind-boggling sums of money.

However, after a decade of PM Modi’s visionary leadership, India has maintained manufacturing momentum despite formidable challenges like two wars and the devastating global pandemic. As the PM rightly said, “Make in India initiative illustrates the collective resolve of 140 crore Indians to make our nation a powerhouse of manufacturing and innovation. It’s noteworthy how exports have risen in various sectors, capacities have been built, and thus, the economy has been strengthened.”

In contrast to the UPA era, which was plagued by scandals, the Modi government has overseen a surge of innovation, with the Startup India initiative leading to the creation of about 15 lakh jobs. These startups are not just creating jobs; they are also providing solutions to reduce food wastage, provide better health care, empower women, help farmers, and improve sanitation. The government is also supporting manufacturing through initiatives like the development of 11 industrial corridors and 20 smart cities, attracting investments of ₹1.7 lakh crore and generating direct and indirect employment for thousands.

Additionally, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes are transforming the country’s manufacturing sector. These schemes focus on critical sectors such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and textiles to create ecosystems for sustained growth and ensure global competitiveness. These schemes have attracted ₹1.32 lakh crore in investments to significantly boost manufacturing output. More than 8.5 lakh jobs have been created directly and indirectly through this initiative.

India is now recognised as a key partner in high-tech and emerging technologies. Global companies are eager to invest in India, benefiting from the country’s manpower, management expertise, and improved infrastructure, which allows for efficient operations and competitive pricing in the global market.

Modernising infrastructure has been a key priority, with substantial investments leading to the development of modern highways, expressways, and world-class railway stations. India’s infrastructure spending has increased substantially. This year’s Union Budget allocated a record ₹11,11,111 crore capital expenditure that will have a multiplier effect on the economy and manufacturing.

Investor confidence in India is growing, with foreign CEOs and industry bodies regularly visiting, eager to participate in India’s growth story. For them, India offers the advantage of four Ds: Decisive leadership, demand from a 140 crore population, demographic dividend of a young workforce, and a vibrant democracy.

To support MSMEs, the government has taken numerous steps to improve the ease of doing business, including eliminating 42,000 compliance requirements and removing criminal penalties for minor offences. India has significantly improved its rank in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report, rising from 142nd in 2014 to 63rd in 2019.

The Modi government remains committed to improving the ease of doing business, regularly consulting stakeholders to introduce new, innovative reforms. PM Modi is determined to promote investment, support businesses, and secure a bright future for India’s youth. The Make in India initiative is a major step toward achieving these goals.

On September 25, the country observed 10 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s game-changing ‘Make in India’ initiative that is transforming India’s industrial landscape by encouraging job-creating investments and giving many ordinary citizens the confidence to become wealth creators.

It’s been a remarkable 10-year journey, which gave renewed vigour to industrial sectors turning these into engines of growth, meeting domestic demand as well as contributing to exports. The exciting journey began at a difficult time, when domestic investors were despondent because of the policy paralysis and poor governance by the indecisive Congress government. The economy was down, confidence was shattered, headlines were dominated by a regular dose of corruption scandals, inflation was soaring, interest rates were high and the rupee had an uncertain outlook.

To end the feeling of doom and gloom, the Indian voter decisively voted for PM Modi. Our Prime Minister came with a vision for India. He wanted to ensure that India becomes a global superpower. He wanted India to provide jobs and opportunities to the youth, recognising that manufacturing was critical to the country’s success story. That is when the PM launched the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Ten years has been a remarkable journey, but it would not have been possible but for the multidimensional and transformative changes done by the Modi government. Initiatives include GST, the Bankruptcy Code and a multitude of other reforms. To improve ease of doing business, as many as 42,000 compliance requirements were done away with and 3,700 provisions which provided for criminal penalties for minor offences were removed from various statutes to protect small businesses from harassment. India sharply improved its rank in World Bank’s Doing Business report – from 142 in 2014 to 63 in 2019.

The government’s Startup India initiative has encouraged many job seekers to become job creators. This has helped the number of recognised startups increase to 1,40,803 in June this year, bringing in investments and creating more than 15 lakh jobs. These startups are driving the innovation ecosystem in the country, working on solutions to pressing issues in areas such as sanitation, space navigation, reducing food wastage, improving access to healthcare and empowering women.

The development of 11 industrial corridors is another focus area.There are 20 industrial smart cities being developed under the programme, which would help make these corridors the backbone of India’s manufacturing growth. Four of these smart cities have already become magnets of investment with infrastructure and clearances available to set up manufacturing units. Potential investments of ₹1.7 lakh crore are already committed which will provide direct employment to 80,000 persons and indirect to many more.

The government’s PLI schemes focus on critical sectors such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, textiles and medical devices to create the eco-systems for sustained growth and ensure their global competitiveness. The PLI schemes have resulted in ₹1.32 lakh crore in investment and a significant boost in manufacturing output of around ₹11 lakh crore. More than 8.5 lakh jobs have been created directly and indirectly through this initiative.

The PM’s initiatives on infrastructure have been another shot in the arm for manufacturing. Apart from generating demand for goods and services, infrastructure development is a major facilitator of industrial activity. Today, India has a huge, and growing, network of expressways and highways. New, world-class railway stations are being built, while new freight corridors are coming up.

India is increasingly being seen as a very attractive destination for investment. The country provides the 4D advantage – Decisive leadership of PM Modi; Demographic dividend of our youthful, talented, skilled Indians; Demand that 140 crore Indians generate in the economy; and Democracy that ensures the safety and security of investors, and the rule of law which will never allow discrimination against one or the other. The 4D is a very, very compelling case to attract manufacturers to India.

There is a flurry of activity in the investor community. A series of delegations is visiting India, hungry for opportunities to invest and participate in the Indian growth story. Foreign governments and global CEOs are eyeing opportunities in India. Many countries are keen to sign trade deals with India.

The world is now looking at India as a manufacturing destination. And the key reason is India’s own competitive advantage, and robust economic fundamentals. Today, inflation is under control, economic growth is strong and the Modi government is following strict fiscal discipline. This is all the more commendable in the current global situation marred by conflict and uncertainty.

The initiatives of PM Modi have helped India rise from the unenviable situation of being regarded as one of the “Fragile Five” in the world in 2014, to being one of the Top Five. In effect, PM Modi’s initiatives like Make in India have contributed to making the last 10 years a transformational decade – a quantum jump over the lost decade of Congress rule.

At a time when global food supply is stressed by market vulnerability to war, weather and volatility, the situation in India is conspicuously comfortable both for consumers and farmers.

On Thursday, the Union cabinet raised the fair and remunerative price (FPR) of sugarcane by 8%, to benefit farmers, who are already getting the highest cane price in the world, while Gol ensures that Indian consumers get the cheapest sugar in the world. The ex-mill price of sugar has fallen 3.5-4% after the start of the new cane-crushing season. The ethanol-blending programme has boosted the viability of the industry, helping millers clear about 99.5% sugarcane dues in 2022-23. This is the lowest-ever pendency of dues, demonstrating this government’s focus on farmer welfare.

There is a series of such initiatives that combine farmer welfare with con- sumer interest. Earlier this month, the PM once again ensured the supply of grains for citizens at affordable prices with the launch of Bharat Rice’ at 29 a kg, carrying forward his mission to provide nutritious food to every citizen. Thanks to our farmers, Gol is providing free food grains to over 80 crore people under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kal- yan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), and very reasonably priced food products for the rest of the population.

The Modi government has always acted swiftly to counter any abnormal rise in prices of sensitive food commodities. Last year, it launched ‘Bharat Dal’ at the highly subsidised rate of 60 a kg, and ‘Bharat Atta’ at 27.50 a kg. Similarly central agencies sell affordable onions. It even supplied tomatoes when prices were soaring, with Gol picking upa large bill for the differential. Sale of ‘Bharat food items has been quickly scaled up and is available at more than 18,000 outlets.

Never before has Gol sold food grains or pulses in the retail market. Last year, as soon as unseasonal rains disrupted tomato supply Gol swung into action and reversed the rise in prices. It has ensured that good quality dal, rice and atta are supplied at moderate rates. These mea- sures are implemented without discrimi- nation, to help every section of society.

Gol has also introduced a dedicated price stabilisation fund to create a buffer of agri-horticultural commodities for prompt market intervention. It took the landmark initiative to ensure availabili- ty and affordability of major pulses and onions with a cumulative budgetary sup- port of 27,489 crore.

Gol has given a strong message that any attempt to hoard supplies or manipulate the market will backfire. While a record wheat harvest is expected in a few mon- ths, Gol is not taking any chances. It has imposed stock limits on wheat and is ready to increase supply in the market.

Every day retail and wholesale prices of 22 essential food commodities are monitored. With inputs from 550 price- monitoring centres in 34 states/UTS, price trends are analysed for taking ap- propriate decisions for release of stocks from the buffer to cool down prices, and imposition of stock limits to prevent hoarding.

Cooking oil prices are at a two-year low following proactive steps, including ch anges in import duties. In the past year, retail prices of mustard oil are down 18.3%, soyabean oil 17.1%, sunflower oil 23.8% and RBD palmolein 12%. Gol is also tak- ing effective steps to control wheat pri- ces. All-India average prices of wheat and atta in the retail and wholesale markets are showing a declining trend.

Gol has restricted exports of wheat, rice and sugar to ensure adequate domestic supply and moderate prices, while mak- ing sure that farmers get remunerative prices. It has stepped up sales of rice and wheat under the ‘Open Market Sales Sch- eme’ to increase domestic supply Laun- ch of Bharat Rice’, which follows a seri- es of other measures, will go a long way in moderating rice prices.

The free-food scheme had helped Indi- ans withstand the pandemic. Post-Covid Gol’s generous welfare schemes conti nue. Gol has already committed 11.80 lakh crore in the next five years under PMGKAY. This scheme carries forward the PM’s record of running welfare sch- emes without compromising on fiscal discipline. Similarly, Gol ensures ethics and discipline in the market for essential food commodities.

As a result, the past decade has been India’s best in inflation control, despite the twin shocks of pandemic and war in Ukraine. This has been achieved despite inheriting a ‘Fragile 5’ economy with double-digit inflation.