New Delhi: Two months after the GST launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday that apprehensions about the indirect tax regime have proven to be unfounded and that a smooth transition has taken place.
He called on the general secretaries of all states to increase efforts to increase registration under the GST and achieve a quantum leap in that respect within a month, a PMO statement said.
The Prime Minister presided over his 21st meeting on proactive governance and timely implementation (PRAGATI), a monthly interaction with senior state officials through a vide conference.
On 1 July the GST was launched, which introduced a uniform system of indirect taxes in the country.
The last 20 meetings of PRAGATI have seen a cumulative review of 183 projects with a total investment of Rs 8.79 lakh crore, according to the PMO statement.
The resolution of public complaints has also been reviewed in 17 sectors, he said.
At the meeting on Wednesday, the PM revised the progress of nine vital infrastructure projects worth more than 56,000 rupees in the railways, roads, energy and pipelines and health sectors, the statement said.
These projects span several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttaranchal, Punjab, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Telangana and Kerala.
It reviewed the progress towards handling and resolving complaints related to patents and trademarks.
He noted the improvement in performance and called on interested officials to work to further accelerate the processing of patent and trademark applications, the statement said.
Officials explained the steps taken to speed up the granting of patents and trademarks, including improving labor, he said.
The prime minister emphasized the importance of using the latest available technology to streamline the process and reach global standards in this regard, the statement said.
Projects reviewed Wednesday included the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and the construction of four new AIIMS in Manglagiri in Andhra Pradesh, Kalyani in West Bengal, Nagpur in Maharashtra and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.
The PM also reviewed the progress of the Smart Cities Mission and valued cities’ participation in the route of the challenge, the statement said.
He said that the challenge before all is now to ensure the implementation and early termination of work in the 90 cities identified, with high quality, said the PMO.
In reviewing the progress of the Forest Rights Act, the prime minister emphasized the importance of using space technology to determine the rights of tribal communities and resolve claims promptly.
In the government e-market (GeM), he said the portal has improved transparency, and has reduced waste, the statement said.
He called on the general secretaries of all states to give priority to GE in government procurement.
