Union Government launches single window e-biz portal

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Union Government has launched a single window government-to-business (G2B) portal- e-Biz (www.ebiz.gov.in) for 11 Central government services to bring transparency and ease of doing business in the country.

The portal was unveiled to public by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi.

Key facts

• It is government’s approach aimed at improving India’s ranking in Ease of doing business index by leveraging technology to bring transparency, improve efficiency and promote convenience.
• It provides single platform for online submission and processing of forms including online payment.
• Government has identified 10 pilot states for its initial implementation and later to expand it across the country.

The portal will provide in total 11 Union government services to meet its objective. Among the 11 services,

• 4 services are from Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) – Services such as name availability, Director Identification Number (DIN), certificate of incorporation and commencement of business.
• 2 services of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) – Provide Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Tax-Deduction Account Number (TAN).
• 2 services of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – to simplify the process such as foreign collaboration through general permission route from RBI.
• 1 service of Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) – Know importer-exporter code (IEC).
• 1 service of Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO)- To complete employer’s registration
• 1 service of Petroleum and explosives Safety Organization (PESO)- issue of explosive licences.

Government is also planning to roll-out more than 200 services related to investors and businesses in next few years.

India, US hold first ever bilateral dialogue on United Nations

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India and United States have held their first ever bilateral dialogue on the UN and multilateral issues.

The dialogue was held in Washington, on the spirit of the Delhi Declaration of Friendship that strengthens and expands the two countries’ relationship.

Indian delegation for dialogue was led by Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary Vikas Swarup while the US delegation was led by Assistant Secretary of State for International Organisation Affairs Sheba Crocker.

First bilateral dialogue provided an opportunity for both nations to discuss a wide range of important issues.

It focused on issues like international peace and security, peacekeeping operations, counter-piracy. It also discussed issues like Post-2015 Development Agenda, UN Human Rights Council, and other matters of mutual interest.

Background

In January 2015, during the US President Barack Obama’s visit to India, both nations had agreed to elevate their long-standing strategic partnership.

In this regard both nations had signed Delhi Declaration of Friendship that strengthens and expands the relationship between the two countries.

IGI Airport ranked best by Airport Council International

Airport Council International (ACI) has ranked Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport of Delhi as the world’s most performing airports in the 25-40 million passengers per annum (MPPA) category. For this achievement, IGI has won the annual ASI’s Airport Service Quality (ASQ) award for the year 2014.

This award recognises and rewards the best airports in the world based upon Geneva-based ACI’s ASQ passenger satisfaction survey.

While in this rankings, Chhatrapati Shivaji International (CSI) Airport of Mumbai was placed at Fifth position.

IGI is run by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a joint venture between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and GMR Group-led consortium.

While, the CSI is run by Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), a joint venture between the AAI and GVK group-led consortium.

ASI’s Airport Service Quality (ASQ) passenger satisfaction survey

The survey rates each airport’s performance in 34 key service areas under eight major categories. These 8 categories include access, check-in, security, airport facilities, food and beverage providers etc at more than 300 airports worldwide.

All participating airports use the same survey questions, creating an industry standard set of responses that allows participants them analyse their performance.

The results of the survey also allow airports to track and analyse their performance by comparing other airports around the globe.