Interim Budget proposals will accelerate the process of India achieving developed country status by 2047, aided by PM’s proven approach of sabka saath, sabka vikaas, sabka vishwas, sabka prayas. For this and for the Budget’s special emphasis on garib, yuva, annadata and nari. FM should be applauded.

Welfare with fiscal discipline – What is truly remarkable about the Budget is that generous, targeted welfare measures, a big increase in capital expenditure and fund allocation for work opportunities and employment generation will go hand in hand with fiscal discipline.

Targeted welfare increases purchasing power of beneficiaries and therefore consumption demand. And on fiscal discipline, it must be noted that this remains the focus even when the nation is preparing for general elections. Globally, most investors brace for fiscal recklessness when a country heads for elections, because govts often resort to reckless populism.

Investors cheer – Modi govt is different. Its strict adherence to fiscal discipline ensured that despite the twin shocks of the pandemic and Ukraine crisis, India emerged as the bright spot globally, by combining compassion with sensible economics. This year’s Budget is in the same spirit. Investors recognise this, and it is reflected in global interest in doing business with India. India’s stock markets also reflect this enthusiasm. India’s markets recently overtook Hong Kong to become the world’s fourth largest with a valuation of $4.33 trillion.

No 1 all the way – Capital expenditure has been raised by 11.1 percent to a historic high of Rs 11,11,111 crore. This will further improve and modernize India’s infrastructure, which is already dramatically better than what it was 10 years ago. Higher capital expenditure and implementation of large projects will create numerous opportunities for India’s young.

Modi Guarantee – PM has correctly observed that this year’s Budget is guaranteed to boost India’s Viksit Bharat ambition. The key part of this journey is the empowerment of poor by setting ambitious targets, achieving them and then encouraging even bigger aspirations.

This is evident in Modi govt’s approach to building homes. Govt has already built more than four crore houses for the poor in villages and cities. Govt has now set a target of building another two crore homes for the middle class.

Women-led development – Similarly, the target of creating 2 crore Lakhpati Didis has been increased by 50% to three crore. ASHA and Anganwadi workers will also get the benefit of Ayushman Bharat. Govt has also empowered women with 30 crore mudra loans. Enrolment of women in higher education has increased 28% in the past decade. In education, women constitute 43 percent of students in Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses, among the highest in the world.

FM also announced that govt will encourage preventive vaccination against cervical cancer for girls in the 9-14 age group, demonstrating again Modi govt’s compassionate approach. And for synergy in implementation, various schemes for maternal and child care will be brought under one umbrella.

Middle-class gains – In line with govt’s strategy on making life easier for people and prevent harassment, the Budget announced withdrawal of some tax demands in cases where there are disputes. This will provide relief to one crore people. Previous govt had kept these disputes alive for decades. The middle class will also gain from improved infrastructure and the expected sharp increase in job creation.

Golden era for youth – India’s youth have the most to gain from PM’s vision of making India a developed country by 2047. The Budget has emphasized the importance of youth and announced measures to help them with employment opportunities. It has also supported start-ups and announced easy credit for innovators.

FM rightly said that for India’s tech-savvy youth, this will be a golden era. Govt will establish a corpus of Rs 1 lakh crore to give interest-free loans for 50 years. This will encourage private companies to scale up research and innovation. FM highlighted the importance of programmes that combine the powers of India’s youth and technology.

Clean and Green – Modi govt is also focused on clean and green development. The Budget takes a giant leap in this direction. The Rooftop Solar Scheme will help one crore families get free electricity up to 300 units. What’s more, people will earn up to Rs 20,000 by selling excess power to the grid. It will also provide opportunities for entrepreneurship.

In many ways, PM has launched the era of sunshine after centuries of struggle. The Budget is an important milestone, laying the foundation of a strong, self-reliant, and confident Bharat 2047.

India is on a mission to become a world leader in providing top quality products that meet the highest global standards. This is in line with PM Modi’s call for ‘zero defect, zero effect’ in manufacturing.

Supply of quality products at competitive rates is a key part of PM’s mission to make India a developed country by 2047. GOI is taking determined steps to ensure ‘Made in India’ branding is a stamp of quality, a branding that both Indian and foreign consumers will delight in equally.

Interests at heart | PM emphasised that a profitable market can be sustained when there is a balance of interests of producers and consumers. A key plank of this strategy is a thrust on Quality Control Orders (QCOs), which mandate that specified products conform to prescribed norms of Bureau of Indian Standards.

This is a boon both for consumers, who are assured reliable, safe and high-quality products, and businesses, which have to deal with increasingly demanding and discerning consumers in the domestic and international markets.

Pulse of consumer |Digital India initiative has helped 140 crore Indians connect with the world and know about best products and practices. They routinely check customer reviews for performance, durability and dependability before buying a product. They publicly highlight deficiencies if dissatisfied with any given product. Therefore, striking a balance between product quality, price, and innovation is the need of the hour.

Expanding quality net | Modi government is focused on developing a robust quality ecosystem to provide safe, reliable and superior-quality goods, and promoting exports of Indian products.

Prior to May 2014, only 14 QCOs covering 106 products had been issued. The list has now been expanded to 148 QCOs covering 653 products. These include household products like ACs, toys and footwear.

Exporting quality | QCOs have accelerated the mission of ‘Make in India for the World’. Many products under QCOs are exported.

Cast iron products, solar DC cables, door fittings, ceiling fans, helmets, smart meters, hinges, air coolers and air filters are quality-controlled products exported at higher levels than they are imported. Cast-iron products covered by QCOs had exports of $535mn last year, while imports were barely $68mn. About 25 QCOs are applied to products where exports exceed imports.

Quality is safety | This clearly demonstrates that QCOs are focused on building robust quality consciousness in India. This also helps reduce dumping of poor quality goods into the country. Access to the best quality goods is the right of every Indian citizen in amrit kaal.

QCOs are also critical for people’s health and safety. Substandard products can be hazardous for households because of risks such as fires due to cheap electronics, and also hospitalisation of children because of toxic chemicals in toys and electrical short-circuits.

Control on quality | A shining example of how quality-control can dramatically upgrade manufacturing to help consumers and manufacturers is the toy industry. Prior to QCO implementation, the Indian toy market was plagued by cheap, substandard products.

A Quality Council of India survey in 2019 showed that barely one-third of toys adhered to relevant BIS Standards. Most of them were hazardous for children. This was completely unacceptable. GOI responded swiftly with a QCO for the sector from January 1, 2021.

Bringing the toys sector under QCO substantially improved their quality. A recent survey showed 84% of toys in the Indian market adhered to BIS standards. QCO has not only provided Indian children with safe, high-quality toys, but has also increased their exports by 60% in 2022-23 compared with 2018-19.

The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), which came into effect one year ago, is a shining example of how major initiatives of the Narendra Modi government are meticulously planned after extensive consultation with all stakeholders, and executed effectively to benefit the common man and SMEs.

ECTA is a mutually beneficial agreement between the two cricket-loving nations, reflecting the world view of a confident and aspirational New India. It reinforces the strategic partnership between two parliamentary democracies that support the rule of law and have similar legal systems. Both are part of the Quad. Both have joined the trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) along with Japan, and the 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).

The FTA, India’s first trade agreement with a developed country in more than a decade, has a phenomenal potential. India primarily imports raw material and intermediate goods from Australia, while its exports are primarily finished products. So, the FTA will reduce input costs of Indian entrepreneurs and make their goods more competitive in domestic and international markets. It also gives Indian startups great opportunities to scale up.

Data shows that ECTA will help create lakhs of jobs in labour-intensive sectors, as Indian products get 100% duty-free access in the huge Australian market. India’s merchandise exports to Australia are up 14% in April-November 2023, a decisively superior performance compared with India’s trade with the rest of the world in a challenging global environment. Australia’s overall imports have fallen 4%, but its purchases from India have risen strongly. India’s imports from Australia have fallen 19%, reducing the trade deficit by 39%.

Exports to Australia under preferential lines grew strongly in job-creating sectors. Exports of engineering goods to Australia rose 24% in April-October 2023, against a 1% rise in total exports. In readymade garments, shipments to Australia rose 27%, while overall exports declined. ECTA also helped shipments of electronics goods and plastic to Australia outperform overall exports in these sectors.

India is exporting over 700 new items to Australia. These exports amount to $335 million in the first 10 months of 2023-24, including smartphones worth $65 million. Other new products include several items in the gems and jewellery sector, light oils, non-industrial diamonds as well as non-silk skirts and dresses.

India is on track to become a developed country by 2047. Our trading partners recognise this strength and appreciate our concerns about protecting our sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy. ECTA, along with the confidence in India’s growth trajectory, GoI’s investor-friendly policies and game-changing reforms has made India an even more attractive destination for Australian businesses.

Total FDI from Australia during January-September 2023 jumped to $307.2 million, seven times the $42.43 million received in the whole of 2022. FDI in consultancy services has jumped to $248 million from barely $0.15 million in 2022.

India’s exports of IT and business services continued their robust trajectory. The momentum of ECTA, complemented with other bilateral agreements with Australia in education, audiovisual services and mobility, provided the perfect backdrop for strong growth of more than 50% in business mobility and almost 100% in post-study work visas for Indian students.

India’s IT industry, relieved of double-taxation after ECTA, is now competing on a level playing field. According to industry estimates, it has saved tens of millions of dollars in the past year. Buoyed by ECTA’s success, Nasscom is putting in place a mechanism to facilitate SMEs in IT to expand their footprint in Australia.

ECTA, and a similar deal with the UAE last year, have been widely applauded by industry leaders. This is a big step forward from previous trade agreements, which did not involve such extensive consultations.

The PM is clear that every policy or agreement should be in national interest. It is in this spirit that India has signed trade deals with Mauritius, Australia and the UAE. The same guiding principles are shaping negotiations with other countries.

India aspires for fair, transparent and mutually beneficial agreements that make our businesses competitive, opening new markets for them. These FTAs expand trade and commerce and accelerate economic growth, thus creating jobs and business opportunities.

From the ramparts of Red Fort, PM Modi has articulated his grand vision of a long-lasting golden era of progress and prosperity for India, as Maa Bharti bounces back confidently after a thousand years of slavery. subjugation and impoverishment.

Modi, India’s first prime minister who was born after Independence, is optimistic about the country’s future. His confidence stems from tangible progress after more than nine years of relentless work to decisively uplift each member of the family of 140 crore Indians in every part of the country. irrespective of their religion, region. gender, caste, age or ethnic identity.

Every policy of the Modi government reflects his mantra of ‘reform, perform and transform, which is delivering results, particularly for the poor and the underprivileged. This has helped India make the quantum jump from being the world’s 10th largest economy to the fifth rank in nine years, and on track to become the third biggest soon.

This ascent has been propelled by sound economic policies, determined clampdown on corruption, plugging of leakages in government expenditure, in creased efficiency and transparency in go vernance, and generous welfare schemes.

A key part of the transformation is India’s women-led development. As PM said, India has more women pilots than any other country and they are at the fore- front of high-tech programmes like the Moon missions. It is a matter of pride that more girls are taking up science, tech- nology engineering and mathematics (STEM) than boys. PM aims to create two crore lakhpati didis in villages, and involve women in operating and repairing drones.

In this transformational journey, the Modi government is liberating the poor from their lifelong struggle for roti, kapda aur makaan. It has provided direct benefit transfers, free foodgrains to about 80 crore people, countrywide validity of ration cards, toilets that protect the dignity of women, electricity in every village, cooking gas, good roads, health insurance and affordable internet. Schemes to provide houses and piped drinking water to every household are progressing rapidly.

The Modi government has managed inflation much better than other countries or compared with the previous regimes, but as PM said, the government is not complacent. More steps will be taken to minimise the burden of inflation on our countrymen. PM’s caring and compassonate policies helped 13.5 crore people move out of poverty and join the ranks of the middle class in five years until 2021.

The aspirational youth of India are generating demand and entrepreneurial energy With the Modi government providing housing, healthcare and food to the masses, and crores of people moving out of the shackles of poverty, demand for various products is rising. This is creating new opportunities for our small businesses and traders. It is encouraging talented young men and women to create startups, which is converting job seekers into job creators.

Under the Modi government’s MUDRA loan scheme, 23 lakh crore have been disbursed to create eight crore new entre- preneurs. About 70% of them are women entrepreneurs and 51% of the beneficiaries are from SC/ST or OBC categories.

In this phase of optimism during Amrit Kaal, in which PM’s visionary leadership will make India a developed country, there are some people who are nervous. They seem rattled by PM’s call to combat three evils: corruption, dynastic politics and appeasement.

Their fears are understandable. The government has taken a series of initia- tives to weed out corruption with effecti- ve law enforcement, use of technology. and removal of archaic laws that have been misused to harass people and extort bribes. PM has also ensured that every government initiative treats all citizens as equals, unlike the policies of appeasement in the past, which have damaged social harmony.

PM Modi has correctly highlighted the evil of dynastic politics. In this brand of politics, members of a particu- lar family occupy the top position of a political party irrespective of merit, with no chance for a deserving party member to rise to the top.

The government’s determination to crush these evils has enthused the masses, but some opposition parties are gloomy They can’t conceal their negativity.

When one such party led a coalition government, it regularly faced corrup- tion scandals involving lakhs of crores of public money. Its prime minister once said this was a compulsion of coalition politics. There cannot be a more unfort unate situation than a PM being unable to provide honest administration because he has to keep the coalition intact. The
a system that gave it power without accountability.

In contrast, for PM Modi, governance is all about honesty, accountability. transparency and a burning desire to improve the lives of citizens. For him, ‘family’ means all the 140 crore people in India, who trust his caring and compas- sionate leadership, which makes him India’s most effective and most popular Pradhan Sevak.

With a government guided by PM Modi, India will stride on the path of development and reach its potential by the 100th year of Independence India is in a rare moment of equilibrium. It has begun to reap its demographic dividend. Remnants of red tape and corruption that slowed down its rise for decades are waning. The stark inequality that shackled the democracy of 1.4 billion people has started to thaw. The global recession that could torpedo India’s growth plans pre-2014, now face a more resilient economy that has learned to pivot, and spin them into opportunities for growth. India’s economy is no longer at the receiving end of the global order but is in the fray of the world’s most powerful future economies, with an unmatched growth rate. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says India and China will account for 50% of the total world gross domestic product growth in 2023, against 10% for the United States (US) and the Euro Zone.

What accounts for this optimism in India’s economy? The answer hinges on three umbrella approaches, 3Cs, that run as a common thread across sectors. The first is individual competitiveness, which begins by empowering those in need so that they can power the nation. Within this group, the government has placed its focus on two segments — young people (65%), and women (50%). This mandate is being carried out by every ministry through programmes designed for the two segments.

Then, by equipping each household with electricity, water, housing, subsidised cooking gas, quality education through the National Education Policy 2020, and safe hygiene through toilets and income transfers, this government is ensuring that its working population is channelised properly and absorbed into growth-inducing sectors. Simultaneously, those at the lowest rung of the economic ladder are being provided a safety net through direct benefits transfers. Enabled by the JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) trinity, this has allowed more than ₹22.4 lakh crore to directly reach their accounts — a feat neither witnessed by pre-2014 India, nor the rest of the world.

The power of technology has given a fillip to entrepreneurship. What was earlier a reserve of the privileged is now a national phenomenon, with 49% of India’s startups coming from tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Schemes such as MUDRA are creating a large pool of entrepreneurs, mostly young people and women from marginalised groups. It is noteworthy that about half of the government-recognised startups are led by women. From a global standpoint too, India’s ecosystem of startups is broader than in any other developing country. It is only a matter of time before these startups bloom into successful Indian MNCs, contributing to both India’s heft and perception in the world order.

The second foundational approach is the re-emergence of competitive federalism, in letter and spirit. Early on, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi signalled his resolve to build strong states to build a strong nation. He recast the erstwhile Planning Commission into the NITI Aayog to act as the glue between the Centre and the states. Then, in a departure from the big brother relationship between the two, the government replaced a Centre-to-State, one-way flow of policy, with a healthy partnership with the states. It empowered them with the resources and autonomy to experiment with their own development models.

For example, states now get a 42% share of the Centre’s tax revenue as compared to 32% earlier. In the last nine years, this strengthening of federalism has given birth to competitive federalism, where states — on the back of parameters such as ease of doing business, their industrial policies, and incentives — compete for investments. This spirit is palpable in the ongoing G20 summits where states are vying to get companies to sign deals and engage closely with investors. As expected, the post-Covid-19 recovery of the economy is being largely driven by bullish investment sentiment.

Alongside empowering individuals and states, the final approach is about India entering a competitive globalisation space, where the PM is showing the path of a human-centric, Indian way of globalisation, that espouses its age-old philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family). This approach proved its mettle during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, when India’s assistance to more than 100 countries was applauded the world over. Since then, world leaders, including those in the Global North, look up to PM Modi for global solutions. The Australian PM’s most recent expression before a 20,000-strong Indian diaspora, “PM Modi is the boss,” is nothing short of a reaffirmation of India’s potential role as a force of global good. This makeover of India’s geopolitical standing has a potent ripple effect on various fronts. For instance, there is renewed interest in concluding some of the long-pending free trade agreements (FTAs) and clinching new ones. Resultantly, India’s goods exports hit a record $448 billion in 2022-23, despite the global slowdown.

On the home front, there is palpable interest among global businesses to diversify their supply chains in India. Thanks to the government’s mission to launch India in a business-friendly avatar, we have moved away from the “China plus one” to an “India-first” reputation. There is no surprise, therefore, that the biggest technology companies plan to extend their shops in India. For example, a quarter of all Apple iPhones will be made in India by 2025. Similarly, aerospace major Airbus has set up a C-295 aircraft manufacturing facility — a first for India.

Thus, there is no doubt that with the indigenous strength of its 1.4 billion people, and a government guided by the vision of PM Modi, Team India will continue to stride on the path of development, till it reaches its full potential by the Shatabdi Kaal. As of today, it stands strong in a position of power at the global negotiating table. It is mighty clear that not only will India pursue a Nation First policy, but it will also herald a new way of thinking that echoes One Earth, One Family and One Future.

The airing of the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unique monthly radio outreach, Mann Ki Baat, is a milestone. ‘Mann Ki Baat’ is central to the PM’s deep connection with the masses, who regard him as a caring, compassionate and decisive leader who is transforming the country to improve their lives.

Since the first episode of Mann Ki Baat on October 3, 2014, the PM has struck a rare chord with our countrymen, who have responded enthusiastically and reached out to him month after month to share their accomplishments, joys, concerns and their valuable suggestions for New India. This regular outreach to countrymen has no parallel in terms of reach and popularity – a fact that has been globally applauded. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently described PM Modi as the world’s “most loved” leader, while the US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo observed that the Indian Prime Minister was an “unbelievable visionary” and the world’s most popular leader with the commitment to move India forward as a global power.

Mann Ki Baat captures the pulse of the nation in its progress towards becoming a developed country, in Amrit Kaal. Mann Ki Baat has attracted and inspired crores of Indians. The number of listeners has risen with each episode. PM Modi has sought to educate, guide, mentor and motivate fellow Indians to work for social change and national development beginning with their communities. Importantly, as Union Home Minister Amit Shah pointed out, Mann Ki Baat has been completely apolitical in nature.

The PM’s Modi regular communication evokes a powerful sense of pride in the motherland. He has highlighted local art and artisans, giving them much-needed recognition and brand value to help them reach out to buyers in India and abroad. It has also promoted khadi, which boosts the rural economy. The impact of the programme can be comprehended from the fact that since Modiji’s mention of domestic toy-making and support for the local toy industry in Mann Ki Baat, the import of toys fell sharply by 70 per cent from $371 million in 2018-19 to $110 million in 2021. Exports grew to $326 million from $202 million.

During the Covid-19 pandemic which disrupted lives and economies across the world, the monthly address lifted the spirit of the nation and infused a sense of positivity and cheer. PM Modi reached out to truck drivers and pilots through this programme and boosted their morale. He also had a word of appreciation for all Covid warriors.

Another important dimension of Mann Ki Baat is that it gave a huge impetus to several flagship initiatives of the government and transformed them into mass movements. These include Swachh Bharat and Beti Bachao and Beti Padhao. Another eloquent example is the resounding success of “Selfie with Daughter”. Domestic tourism has got a huge boost. Apart from widespread social awareness of cleanliness thanks to the Swachhta Abhiyaan, the message of water conservation was disseminated nationally with a sense of urgency. Similarly, the protection of the environment has now evolved into a movement.

Mann Ki Baat acknowledges the strength and power of 140 crore people and motivates them to give their best in the mission of nation-building. It is now being broadcast in 23 Indian and 11 foreign languages recording the nation’s developmental journey under the PM’s extraordinary leadership. In these 100 broadcasts, he has covered and highlighted a wide array of topics, including weather, environment, cleanliness, social issues, indigenous crafts, examinations, clean India, fit India, saving and educating the girl child, water conservation, being vocal for local products, self-reliant India and celebrating the cultural diversity of our great nation.

Mann Ki Baat episodes feature inspirational stories about unsung heroes, grassroots champions and changemakers across India.

While drawing our attention to a host of burning topics, changemakers and grass roots heroes, the PM’s monthly dialogue also outlines the roadmap for the future. The spirit of Jan Bhagidari with which this journey of development is suffused, harnesses the creative energies of the entire nation, notably its youth.

To mark 75 years of Independence, PM Modi hoisted the national flag for the ninth time from the ramparts of the Red Fort and spelt out his vision for the future, predicated on “Panch Pran”. In line with this futuristic view, he took a pledge along with 140 crore fellow countrymen to rid the country of the colonial mindset in Amrit Kaal. As he observed with great clarity, “Today, our pathways are our own, our symbols are our own.”

In the course of these 100 episodes, PM Modi touched upon several patriotic, social and cultural causes which people have embraced wholeheartedly and adopted. This includes the call for the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, commemorating 75 years of independence and his popular campaign to hoist the national flag in every home — Har Ghar Tiranga.

Mann Ki Baat is an authentic record of the extraordinary development journey of Bharat over the last nine years under PM Modi’s leadership. His monthly interface with the nation reinforces his image of a down-to-earth, sensitive, visionary, and powerful mass leader.

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) crossed a historic milestone at the end of 2022-23: GoI and state governments, official agencies, public sector undertakings and cooperatives purchased goods and services worth more than Rs 2 lakh crore ($24bn) through more than 5mn online transactions in a single financial year – a testimony to PM Narendra Modi’s commitment to inclusive development, transparency, efficiency and corruption-free governance.

GeM is truly a gem that has replaced the obsolete Directorate General of Supplies & Disposals (DGS&D). Befittingly, Vanijya Bhawan, the new office building of the commerce and industry ministry, has been built on the land once occupied by DGS&D.

At the foundation stone laying ceremony of the building, Modi rightly observed: “Now this more than 100 years old organisation has been closed and it has been replaced by a body based on digital technology – Government e Marketplace. GeM has completely revolutionised the way the government procures the goods required by it.”

Seven spectacular years of GeM
GeM has grown spectacularly since it was set up in August 2016. The total value of transactions on the portal almost doubled in 2022-23 to Rs 2.01 lakh crore from Rs 1.07 lakh crore in the previous fiscal. The trailblasing journey began with business worth Rs 422 crore in 2016-17.
The portal was launched to align public procurement of goods and services with Modi’s mission of ‘Minimum Government and Maximum Governance’ and his strategy of using technology to make government systems honest, effective and accessible to all.

GeM’s transparent practices such as competitive bidding have helped government departments and undertakings save about Rs 40,000 crore of taxpayer’s money. Such initiatives have helped the Modi government in substantially raising welfare expenditure without compromising on fiscal health.

Transformation from manual to digital

In this context, GeM’s significance goes far beyond its phenomenal growth in financial terms, which itself would make any e-commerce major jealous. The new system replaces age-old manual processes that were riddled with inefficiencies and corruption. Government procurement used to be opaque, time-consuming, cumbersome and prone to corruption and cartelisation.

Only a privileged few could break through huge entry barriers.
Buyers had no choice but to purchase sub-standard goods at high, non-negotiable rates from privileged, often unscrupulous suppliers.
Potential sellers had to run from pillar to post, completely at the mercy of the facilitating agency, to get empanelled, and then to get timely payments.

In contrast, there is hardly any human interface in vendor registration, order placement and payment processing through the technology-driven platform. At every step, SMS and e-mail notifications are sent to the buyer, the head of her/his organisation, paying authorities and sellers.

The paperless, cashless and faceless GeM gives buyers the freedom to buy goods and services directly from unlimited sellers at competitive rates. This new, competitive system has transformed public procurement and given MSMEs and small businessmen access to sought-after government orders.

Independent research validates GeM
Hard data and insightful third-party analyses testify GeM’s success. An independent study conducted by the World Bank and IIM Lucknow estimated an average 10% savings from the median price. The World Bank noted that with the addition of every new bidder, savings increased by 0.55%.

A study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) showed that annual cost savings in 2021-22 were in the range of 8%-11%. Modi appropriately summed up GeM’s objective as “Minimum Price and Maximum Ease, Efficiency and Transparency”.

The portal is home to:
More than 11,500 product categories
Over 3.2mn listed products
It has over 280 service categories with more than 2.8 lakh service offerings

GeM is catering to diverse procurement needs of more than 67,000 government buyer organisations, which have together saved about Rs 40,000 crore. It gives equal opportunity to all buyers and sellers.

About 60% of orders by value from states have gone to micro and small enterprises. States have also placed orders worth Rs 1,109 crore on start-ups, demonstrating the ease of access for relatively underprivileged business people, including those in far-flung areas.

Given the scale and complexities involved in realigning the old, deeply entrenched procurement processes, this is one of the largest change-management exercises globally.

The portal’s transformational success bodes well for the entire economy because the ‘gem’ is magnifying efficiency and integrity during the ‘Amrit Kaal’ as India marches to become a developed country by 2047 under the decisive and visionary leadership of Modi.

India’s exports of goods and services soared above $750-billion in the 75th year of Independence as we celebrated Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The record performance in 2022-23 is a remarkable achievement in a challenging global environment, with the pandemic, followed by the Ukraine conflict, disrupting business activity around the world. The stellar performance, amid global headwinds, is part of a broader story of India’s emergence as a force to reckon with on the global stage under the decisive and visionary leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi. Whether it is the record foreign investment even during the pandemic, trade deals with developed countries, or world-leading performance in vaccination, distribution of free food, adoption of LED bulbs, building renewable energy capacity, direct benefit transfers or the dramatic growth in digital payments, the world is applauding India. The foundation of this performance was laid in August 2021 when the PM interacted with the heads of Indian missions abroad and other stakeholders in India’s foreign trade. In this unique initiative, in step with the PM’s whole-of-government approach, secretaries of more than 20 departments, state government officials, members of export promotion councils and chambers of commerce participated.

The PM gave a strong message for the industry to adopt high technology, become competitive and focus on quality. He also said the government and exporters should walk shoulder to shoulder. The commerce and industry ministry regularly interacts with exporters in this spirit.

India’s merchandise exports soared to a record $422 billion in 2021-22. This performance put Indian exports in a different league, far above the previous record of $330 billion. Services exports also set a new record of $254.53 billion. Many experts felt that the performance of merchandise exports was a one-off show, which would be difficult to replicate.

The initiative of PM Modi set the ball rolling for the record-breaking performance, even though our strategy for foreign trade, like every other policy of the Modi government, gives top priority to national interest and the welfare of the poor. For the Modi government, compassion for the poor and support for small enterprises is more important than setting records.

To control domestic prices, the government restricted or discouraged exports of various products and commodities, including wheat, sugar, rice, iron ore, steel, and petroleum. This smoothened domestic supplies, helped consumers and small businesses and shielded them from volatility. It kept India’s inflation much lower than western countries. Our merchandise exports would have been significantly higher without these steps that were consciously taken.

The Modi government has run the extra mile to make it easier for manufacturers to do business, build world-class infrastructure, encourage small businesses to think globally, raise quality standards and open new markets with trade deals to help our exporters. The PM Gati Shakti National Masterplan, Jan Vishwas Bill, ease of doing business initiatives, national logistics policy, single-window clearance, PM MITRA textiles parks, and the rapid development of expressways and rural roads are some of the initiatives that help all businesses and boost exports.

The initiatives of the Modi government to encourage exports in new sectors are also delivering results. For example, India’s defence exports in 2022-23 rose to a record ₹15,920 crore and are poised to grow exponentially in the years ahead. The PM, who has ably steered India’s export strategy, rightly observed that this was a clear manifestation of India’s talent and enthusiasm towards “Make in India”.

Similarly, India has emerged as a big exporter of toys, after being almost totally import dependent. The Modi government’s policy of enforcing quality control and supporting manufacturers helped the sector turn around. As a result, exports of electronics goods, with leading companies such as Apple making in India for the world, have also grown spectacularly.

Services exports are another exciting story rooted in the PM’s Digital India initiative. Strong and decisive steps taken by the Modi government have built a robust digital backbone, which helped India seamlessly adapt to working from home during the pandemic. The phenomenal growth of India’s digital infrastructure, along with the dedication and determination of Indians, helped the country honour all its service commitments and emerge as a “trusted partner” for the world.

India’s digital infrastructure has empowered businesses and the common man, helping the country weather the pandemic and maintain business activity, including exports. A working paper of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently lauded India’s effort. “Using this digital infrastructure India was able to quickly provide support to an impressive share of poor households during the pandemic. In the first months of the pandemic about 87 percent of poor households received at least one benefit … India’s journey highlights lessons for other countries embarking on their own digital transformation,” it said. India’s services exports are growing rapidly and poised to set new records, but there are challenges ahead. The World Bank and IMF’s forecasts for global economic growth are not encouraging. The World Trade Organization’s forecast of international trade is also gloomy. Despite such headwinds, the growth engines of the economy in India continue to be robust. This makes us optimistic that exports of goods and services will rise to $1 trillion each by 2030.

प्राचीन काल से चली आ रही भारतीय वस्त्रों की समृद्ध परंपरा, एक लंबी छलांग लगाने के लिए तैयार है, जो देश को एक वैश्विक निवेश, विनिर्माण और निर्यात केंद्र बना देगी। प्रधानमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी ने तमिलनाडु, तेलंगाना, कर्नाटक, महाराष्ट्र, गुजरात, मध्य प्रदेश और उत्तर प्रदेश में सात पीएम मित्र मेगा टेक्सटाइल पार्क के निर्माण की घोषणा की है। ये मेगा टेक्सटाइल पार्क 4,445 करोड़ रुपये के परिव्यय से निर्मित किए जाएंगे। इस क्षेत्र की अवसंरचना के लिए यह अब तक की सबसे बड़ी पहल होगी।

प्रधानमंत्री के 5एफ विजन (खेत से फाइबर से फैक्टरी से फैशन से विदेश तक) से प्रेरित होकर, पीएम मित्र पार्क योजना; आत्मनिर्भर भारत और ‘बोकल फॉर लोकल’ पहल को हासिल करने की दिशा में एक बड़ा कदम है। ये मेगा पार्क इस क्षेत्र को 2030 तक 250 बिलियन डॉलर के कारोबार और 100 बिलियन डॉलर के निर्यात के लक्ष्य को हासिल करने में मदद करेंगे।

मेगा टेक्सटाइल पार्क वस्त्र क्षेत्र में व्यापक बदलाव करेंगे और प्रत्येक स्थल पर विश्व स्तरीय सुविधाओं, अत्याधुनिक अवसंरचना और एकीकृत मूल्य श्रृंखला की मदद से वैश्विक चैंपियन तैयार करेंगे। निर्माण और विकास करने वाली एक प्रमुख कंपनी का चयन किया जाएगा, जो पीएम मित्र पार्क की डिजाइन, योजना, निर्माण, वित्तपोषण संचालन और रख-रखाव के लिए जिम्मेदार होगी। यह उद्योग के लिए एक बड़ी छलांग है, क्योंकि मूल्य श्रृंखला वर्तमान में पूरे देश में बिखरी हुई है, जो श्रृंखला के प्रत्येक संपर्क-बिंदु पर लागत और विलंब में वृद्धि करती है।

भारतीय उद्योग विश्व स्तर पर प्रतिस्पर्धी बन जायेंगे, क्योंकि पार्क उत्पादन बढ़ाने, लागत में कटौती करने, दक्षता में सुधार करने और उच्च गुणवत्ता वाले वस्त्रों व परिधानों की आपूर्ति में मदद करेंगे।

ये मेगा पार्क रोजगार के लगभग 20 लाख प्रत्यक्ष/अप्रत्यक्ष अवसरों का सृजन करेंगे और अनुमानित 70,000 करोड़ रुपये के घरेलू और विदेशी निवेश को आकर्षित करेंगे। ये मेगा पार्क शून्य द्रव रिसाव, साझा अपशिष्ट शोधन संयंत्र, उत्सर्जन मुक्त नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा के उपयोग और वैश्विक सर्वोत्तम तौर-तरीकों को अपनाने के साथ, सतत विकास के शानदार उदाहरण होंगे। ये मेगा पार्क ऐसे उत्पादों के निर्माण करने के प्रधानमंत्री के आह्वान के अनुरूप हैं जिनमें कोई खामी न हो और पर्यावरण पर जिनका कोई दुष्प्रभाव न हो।

यह रेखांकित करना प्रासंगिक है कि सदियों से, भारतीय वस्त्रों ने वैश्विक पहचान बनाई है, लेकिन दुर्भाग्य से, पिछली सरकारों द्वारा इस क्षेत्र को काफी अनदेखा किया गया। यह प्रधानमंत्री मोदी की दूरदर्शिता थी, जिसके तहत वस्त्र क्षेत्र के लिए पीएम मित्र योजना शुरू की गयी है। भारतीय अर्थव्यवस्था के मुख्य आधारों में से एक- वस्त्र क्षेत्र, भारतीय निर्यात का एक अहम हिस्सा है और इस क्षेत्र में साधारण किसानों से लेकर शहर के संपन्न निवासियों व व्यापार जगत के अग्रणी लोग तक शामिल हैं। वस्त्र क्षेत्र लाखों लोगों के
लिए आजीविका का स्रोत है।

पीएम मित्र पार्क स्थापित करने के लिए 13 राज्यों से 18 प्रस्ताव प्राप्त हुए थे। एक पारदर्शी प्रक्रिया के माध्यम से सात मेगा पार्कों का चयन किया गया, जिन्हें पीएम गतिशक्ति राष्ट्रीय अवसंरचना मास्टरप्लान द्वारा मान्यता दी गयी थी। यह सहयोगी संघवाद का एक और उदाहरण है, क्योंकि केंद्र और संबंधित राज्य, दोनों ही विशेष प्रयोजन कंपनी (एसपीवी) के भागीदार होंगे, जो इन मेगा पाकों की स्थापना और प्रबंधन करेगी।

इन पार्कों की स्थापना हेतु राज्य सरकारें कम से कम 1,000 एकड़ भूमि उपलब्ध करायेंगी। राज्य सरकारें उत्पादन प्रक्रिया के सुचारु संचालन एवं व्यापार करने में आसानी को सुनिश्चित करने के उद्देश्य से एक अनुकूल व स्थिर नीतिगत व्यवस्था के साथ-साथ बिजली एवं पानी की आपूर्ति तथा कचरे के निपटारे की एक भरोसेमंद व्यवस्था तथा एकल खिड़की मंजूरी की एक कारगर सुविधा भी प्रदान करेंगी।

इन मेगा पाकों में उत्कृष्ट बुनियादी ढांचे एवं प्लग-एंड-प्ले सुविधाओं के साथ-साथ वस्त्र उद्योग के लिए आवश्यक प्रशिक्षण एवं अनुसंधान संबंधी सहायता भी उपलब्ध होंगी। ये पार्क एक ऐसा अनूठा मॉडल पेश करेंगे जहां केन्द्र और राज्य सरकारें निवेश बढ़ाने, नवाचार को प्रोत्साहित करने, रोजगार सृजित करने और वस्त्र के क्षेत्र में भारत को दुनिया में अग्रणी बनाने हेतु मिलकर काम करेंगी। वस्त्र उद्योग ने सरकार की इस महत्वपूर्ण पहल के प्रति उत्साहवर्द्धक प्रतिक्रिया दी है। सरकार द्वारा यह पहल सभी हितधारकों के साथ व्यापक विचार-विमर्श के बाद शुरू की गई है। सीआईआई और फिक्की जैसे शीर्ष उद्योग संगठनों के साथ-साथ वस्त्र क्षेत्र से जुड़े प्रमुख उद्योग संघों ने पीएम मित्र मेगा पार्को की स्थापना की घोषणा की सराहना की है।

उद्योग संगठनों ने यह उम्मीद व्यक्त की है कि अपेक्षाकृत कम लॉजिस्टिक्स लागत, टेक्सटाइल मेगा पार्क : एक बड़ा कदम आधुनिक बुनियादी ढांचा, वैश्विक स्तर पर व्यापार की संभावनाएं और केन्द्र एवं राज्य सरकारों की सहायक नीतियां भारतीय वस्त्र उद्योग को नई ऊंचाइयों पर ले जायेंगी और भारतीय व विदेशी उपभोक्ताओं को प्रतिस्पर्धी कीमतों पर उच्च गुणवत्ता वाले उत्पाद उपलब्ध करायेंगी।

वस्त्र मंत्रालय इन परियोजनाओं के कार्यान्वयन की निगरानी करेगा। मंत्रालय प्रत्येक पार्क के एसपीवी को विकास हेतु पूंजीगत सहायता के रूप में ग्रीनफील्ड पार्कों के लिए 500 करोड़ रुपये और ब्राउनफील्ड पार्कों के लिए 200 करोड़ रुपये की वित्तीय सहायता प्रदान करेगा। इसके अलावा, वह कार्यान्वयन को तेजी से आगे बढ़ाने के लिए प्रेरित करने के उद्देश्य से प्रत्येक पार्क में स्थित इकाइयों को 300 करोड़ रुपये तक की राशि प्रदान करेगा यह कदम अतिरिक्त प्रोत्साहन देने हेतु अन्य सरकारी योजनाओं के साथ समन्वय की सुविधा भी प्रदान करेगा।

पीएम मित्र प्रावधान वैसे मुक्त व्यापार समझौतों पर हस्ताक्षर करने के लिए सरकार की विभिन्न पहल के साथ सामंजस्य बिठाते हैं, जो विकसित बाजारों में हमारे भारतीय वस्त्रों, परिधानों तथा कई अन्य क्षेत्रों के लिए व्यापार की संभावनाओं को बेहतर बनाते हैं। भारत पहले ही संयुक्त अरब अमीरात एवं ऑस्ट्रेलिया के साथ व्यापार समझौते पर हस्ताक्षर कर चुका है और कनाडा, ब्रिटेन एवं यूरोपीय संघ के साथ इस संबंध में बातचीत कर रहा है। इन प्रयासों से भारतीय वस्त्रों को लाभकारी विकसित बाजारों में अपनी पैठ मजबूत करने में मदद मिलेगी और वस्त्र एवं परिधान के वैश्विक व्यापार में देश की हिस्सेदारी में उल्लेखनीय वृद्धि होगी। भारत की गिनती पहले ही दुनिया के सबसे बड़े वस्त्र एवं परिधान निर्यातक देशों में से एक के रूप में होती है। लेकिन अब जबकि देश 2047 तक प्रधानमंत्री मोदी के निर्णायक एवं दूरदर्शी नेतृत्व में एक विकसित राष्ट्र बनने की ओर अग्रसर है, अमृत काल में हमारी आकांक्षा दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा वस्त्र निर्यातक देश बनने की है। पीएम मित्र के जरिए हम सही दिशा में आगे बढ़ रहे हैं।