Apart from commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma, whose ministry is spearheading the policy initiative, the group will be comprised of environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan, labour minister Mallikarjun Kharge, law minister Salman Khursheed, and micro, small and medium enterprises minister Dinsha J. Patel.
“Though no time frame has been fixed for a decision, we expect a decision quickly," an industry department official said, requesting anonymity.
The policy aims to create 100 million additional jobs and expand the share of manufacturing from 16% of the country's gross domestic product at present to 25% by 2025. Its implementation has been delayed due to the lack of consensus among ministers on the proposed environmental and labour policies.
The cabinet deferred a decision on the matter last week after Natarajan opposed certain provisions in the policy.
Rajiv Kumar, secretary general of industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said he was expecting the cabinet to clear the policy directly. “I don't know what is the need of a GoM on this issue," he said. “But I hope the GoM will come out with the final policy at the earliest." Read the full report here.
Source: Asit Ranjan Mishra, Live Mint, New Delhi.
