Delhi to have unified portal to issue licences to businesses
Lieutenant governor VK Saxena and chief minister Rekha Gupta jointly chaired a high-level review meeting to evaluate the progress of reforms on 'Ease of Living' and 'Ease of Doing Business' parameters on Saturday. The meeting comes in the wake of the Centre's directive urging states and union territories to expedite licensing reforms, officials said.
The discussion focused on overhauling Delhi's complex licensing ecosystem with challenges such as fragmented databases, multiple authorities and burdensome fee structures that have long been a barrier to investment and a source of harassment for applicants.
'Initiatives like reducing the role of Delhi Police in granting licences in various categories, deemed permission by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for factory licence, authority of the revenue department for cinema hall licences, 24X7 opening of shops and establishments and allowing women to work in night shifts, would go a long way in creating a business friendly environment in the national capital,' said Saxena.
Key measures on the table included empanelment of third-party auditors for fire safety clearances, simplification of regulatory processes and introduction of a common application form for clearances across departments. Officials also proposed linking data systems of departments like MCD, New Delhi Municipal Council, labour, GST, DPCC and FSSAI to reduce duplication and streamline governance. Officials also discussed developing a unified portal for all licences by taking data of Shop and Establishment Act as base data, officials said.
'This portal encompassing all licences will significantly reduce red tape. Discussions also included rationalising MCD zones to align with revenue districts and requiring local departmental officers to report directly to district magistrates,' an official said.
One of the most striking reforms under consideration is the adoption of the 'Tripura model' of self-certification for small industries with investment up to ₹2 crore, and third-party certification for larger enterprises. The city is also looking at extending 24x7 operational permissions for shops and establishments, officials said.
Gupta called on officials to fast-track the reforms, emphasising that multiple licensing authorities were a source of unnecessary public hardship. She also asked the chief secretary to explore creation of unified office complexes in each district to co-locate all relevant government departments for public convenience.
'The reforms being carried out under the Prime Minister's guidance will firmly position Delhi as a prime investment destination,' said Gupta, while the LG praised the Delhi government's initiatives to curtail outdated procedures and bring governance closer to the people.
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Indian Express
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India-Philippines first bilateral naval exercise in the South China Sea: Why it matters for the UPSC Exam
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your UPSC Current Affairs knowledge nugget for today on India-Philippines first bilateral naval exercise in the South China Sea. (Relevance: India's bilateral relations with various countries form an important part of the UPSC CSE syllabus. Previously, questions have been asked on different defence exercises; for example, in Prelims 2024, UPSC asked a question about Mitra Shakti. Moreover, in Mains, questions have been asked on broader themes; for instance, on the 'String of Pearls,' China's economic influence transforming into military power, and its impact on India's strategic interests. Thus, knowing about the newly conducted first India-Philippines bilateral naval exercise and the South China Sea becomes essential.) President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr of the Philippines is set to arrive in New Delhi on August 4 in his first trip to India since assuming office in 2022, even as the two countries have begun their first bilateral naval exercise in the South China Sea. In this context, let's know about the India-Philippines' first bilateral naval exercise in the South China Sea and other important aspects related to it. 1. India and the Philippines began the two-day 'bilateral maritime cooperative activity' on Saturday (2nd of August) in waters close to the Scarborough Shoal, a focal point of the maritime dispute between China and the Philippines. Sources say India is joining these efforts owing to its shared concerns about China's growing maritime power, including in the South China Sea. 2. Defence cooperation is one of the strong pillars of bilateral relations and a promising area for future collaboration between India and the Philippines, says the website of the Indian embassy in Manila. 3. 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The countries have bickered over territorial control in the sea for centuries, but in recent years tensions have soared to new heights. 2. The South China Sea is one of the most strategically critical maritime areas (more on this later) and China eyes its control to assert more power over the region. In 1947, the country, under the rule of the nationalist Kuomintang party, issued a map with the so-called 'nine-dash line'. 3. The nine-dash line essentially encircles Beijing's claimed waters and islands of the South China Sea — as much as 90% of the sea has been claimed by China. The line continued to appear in the official maps even after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) came to power. 4. In the past few years, the country has also tried to stop other nations from conducting any military or economic operation without its consent, saying the sea falls under its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 5. China's sweeping claims, however, have been widely contested by other countries. In response, China has physically increased the size of islands or created new islands altogether in the sea, according to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). 1. There are 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in deposits under the South China Sea, according to the estimates of the United States Energy Information Agency. 2. Moreover, the sea is home to rich fishing grounds — a major source of income for millions of people across the region. The BBC reported that more than half of the world's fishing vessels operate in this area. 3. Most significantly, the sea is a crucial trade route. 'The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development estimates that over 21% of global trade, amounting to $3.37 trillion, transited through these waters in 2016,' the news outlet added. 'String of Pearls' is a Chinese strategy involving a network of ports and facilities around the Indian Ocean Region. 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SAGAR: The 'Security and Growth for All in the Region' (SAGAR) concept was first articulated by the Prime Minister of India in Mauritius in 2015. Under this concept, India envisages a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, one which is built on a rules-based international order, sustainable and transparent infrastructure investment, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, mutual respect for sovereignty, peaceful resolution of disputes, as well as equality of all nations. 2. MAHASAGAR: This year, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mauritius, he announced the upgradation of the comprehensive strategic partnership and enhanced SAGAR to MAHASAGAR, i.e., Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. 3. The doctrine of MAHASAGAR builds on SAGAR and indicates a broadened scope of India's maritime engagement. This perceptibly includes not only the immediate neighbourhood but also extends to the broader Indo-Pacific space and connects with India's strategic collaboration with QUAD members—the United States, Japan, and Australia. Consider the following statements: 1. The Philippines is the first foreign nation to acquire the BrahMos missile system from India. 2. The 'Security and Growth for All in the Region' (SAGAR) concept was first articulated by the Prime Minister of India in Mauritius in 2015. 3. Varuna exercise is a bilateral joint maritime exercise of India and France. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only One (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None (Sources: Amid India-Philippines naval drill in South China Sea, President Marcos Jr to arrive in New Delhi today, China-Philippines tussle: Everything you need to know about the South China Sea dispute) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at
The Hindu
20 minutes ago
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Business Standard
20 minutes ago
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