20.2.15

E-Biz portal launched

The government has launched a single-window portal, ‘e-biz’, integrating 11 central government services, to facilitate faster clearances for businesses. Launching the portal, finance minister Arun Jaitley said discretionary powers to officers would end with the portal. “India was committed to steps to foster business environment. E-Biz was important as it will bring transparency, improve efficiency, integrate services and promote electronic delivery of services,” the finance minister said.
The Narendra Modi government aims at improving India’s ranking of 142 in the World Bank’s ease of doing business index that rated 180 countries.
The single-window portal by the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) will provide all business and investment-related clearances 24x7 with an integrated payment gateway. Jaitley emphasised that lack in stability in policy was a key detractor for investment into India.
In response to the criticism over government taking the ordinance route for reforms, Jaitley said it shows the government’s decisiveness.
“The irony is that after having seen lethargic government, you today have a government in place which is criticised for being too fast. The world watches us as to whether we are decisive or not,” he said. FM also hit out at the opposition for stalling passage of bills including insurance saying that India cannot afford to divide itself over policy. “India has scored too many own goals in the past.” The portal will provide access to services from the corporate affairs ministry, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Reserve Bank of India, Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation and Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
The MCA services to be integrated under e-Biz include checking name availability, Director Identification Number (DIN) , certificate of incorporation and commencement of business. CBDT’s services of TAN and PAN and RBIs’ advance foreign remittances and foreign collaboration — general permission route will be among the 11 services, besides petroleum and explosives licence. The government intends to add more services to the portal.

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