eGovWatch: Government launches 11 services on eBiz portal

Entrepreneurs can apply online for 11 services, including PAN and DIN numbers, through an e-Biz portal that will improve ease of doing business in the country by providing one-stop clearance platform for investment proposals.

“These services are required for starting a business in the country,” Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

With the integration of these services on eBiz portal, an entrepreneur can avail of all these services 24×7 online –submission of forms, attachments, payments, tracking of status and obtaining the license/permit from the portal.

Four services from Corporate Affairs Ministry, two each from Central Board of Direct Taxes and the RBI and one service each from DGFT and EPFO and Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organisation was integrated with the portal.

A business user avails these services either from the portal of the ministry or the department concerned or through physical submission of forms.

“We in the World Bank consider ourselves as partner on this (initiative). We are eager to see India’s ranking improve in the upcoming report,” World Bank, Country Director for India, Onno Ruhl said, adding that improvement in ease of doing business would also help in creating jobs.

India has been ranked 142 among the 189 countries in the World Bank report, falling two places from last year’s ranking. The government is aiming to bring India into the top 50 ranks.

eBiz, the Government-to-Business portal was conceptualised with support from National Institute of Smart Government as
the consulting partner and developed by Infosys Ltd in a PPP Model for a period of 10 years.

The first three years of the term would be the pilot phase, while the remaining seven years will be the expansion phase. During the pilot phase, 50 (26 central + 24 state) services are being implemented across ten pilot states including Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

It is envisaged that during the next few years, more than 200 services related to investors and businesses will be rolled-out across the country.

An entrepreneur can only apply for various services like obtaining the name of the company, certificate of incorporation, commencement of business and registration with the EPFO.

The initiative for the portal was taken up by the UPA government.