Relevance: GS II (Governance) & GS III (Economy) | Source: PIB

1. What is the Big Change?

India is changing how businesses work. We are moving away from thick paper files and long queues to a fast, online system.

• The Main Goal: To save time, money, and effort for anyone wanting to start and run a business in India.
• Ending ‘Inspector Raj’: By putting all approvals online, the government is reducing unnecessary human interference. This makes the whole process faster, fairer, and free from corruption.

2. Easy and Fast Registration

The government has created smart digital tools so that starting a new company is no longer a headache:

• One Super-Form (SPICe+): Instead of running to 10 different government offices, a new company can now fill out just one online form. This single form gives them their registered name, tax numbers (like PAN), and even opens a bank account instantly.
• Udyam Portal: A completely free, paperless website specially made for small shops and small factories (known as MSMEs). An owner can register their business easily using just their Aadhaar number. No physical papers are required.

3. Quick Government Approvals

Once a business is registered, it needs permissions to start building or producing:

• National Single Window System (NSWS): Think of this as a “one-stop digital shop.” A business owner can easily check exactly what state and central permissions they need and apply for all of them through this one website.
• PARIVESH Portal: A special smart website used to get environmental permissions quickly. It ensures factories follow green laws to protect nature without facing endless delays.

4. Smooth Transport and Fair Trade

• E-Way Bill: Earlier, trucks carrying factory goods waited for hours at state borders to show physical tax papers. Now, a single digital bill allows trucks to move freely across all Indian states without border check-post delays.
• PM GatiShakti: A massive digital map used by the government. It helps different departments plan roads, railways, and ports together. This teamwork ensures that transport projects are built fast, without confusing delays.
• ONDC: A new digital network designed to help small, local shopkeepers sell their goods online. It gives them a fair chance to compete against giant e-commerce companies.

UPSC Value Box

With reference to the government initiatives for improving the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in India, consider the following statements:

1. The Udyam Portal is a free, paperless registration system designed specifically for large multinational foreign corporations.
2. PM GatiShakti is a digital platform aimed at the coordinated planning and execution of infrastructure connectivity projects across India.
3. The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) aims to promote an open digital network to give small sellers a fair platform in electronic commerce.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)