As part of the ease of doing business in the country, the government is committed to introducing a single-window clearance mechanism for investors by mid-April next year. This technology-based platform for both domestic or global investors envisages to give all the information about the land, procedures, requirements and requirements to get that investment proposal cleared. "It will lead to a unified single sheet of information, which other approval ministries will draw. So, the investor doesn't have to do multiple applications in the end. Although, it is not going to replace any important approval because these are all important approvals.

The IP index 2019, brought out by the US Chamber of Commerce's Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) showed that India ranked 36th of 50 economies, eight places up from 44th place last year. India's overall score has also increased substantially from 30.07% (12.03 out of 40) in the previous edition to 36.04% (16.22 out of 45) in the present edition.

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has released a draft National E-commerce Policy with aims to create a framework for achieving holistic growth of the e-commerce sector along with existing policies of Make in India and Digital India. The draft addresses six broad issues of the e-commerce ecosystem: Data, Infrastructure development, E-commerce marketplaces, Regulatory issues, Stimulating domestic digital economy and Export promotion through e-commerce. 

As per Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notification, the import of new electronics and IT goods without BIS registration is now prohibited. Under the Electronics and IT Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) order 2012, imports of these goods is allowed through the registration with the BIS or on specific exemption letter from the Ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY).

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for accession of India to the Nice, Vienna and Locarno Agreements, that would harmonize the classification systems for examination of trademark and design applications, in line with the systems followed globally. The accession is expected to instill confidence in foreign investors in relation to protection of IPs in India.

DoT has issued instructions liberalising import norms for prototype, sample products and test and measurement equipment in licence-exempt bands without the need of ‘equipment type approval (ETA)’ in a bid to help promote `Make in India’.  The department also enabled ETA through self-certification for import of commercial and finished products.

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued the list of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) standards which are applicable for components of solar photovoltaic (PV) applications. The list includes six products along with Indian Standard Number and the Title of Indian Standard.

A Special National Standards Conclave was organized by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, deliberated Indian National Strategy for Standardization (INSS) for the effective implementation and the market access and industry aspect of utilising this strategy.

Minister of State of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, provided information on the Issues and Challenges to WTO.  The WTO and the global trading system are facing serious challenges in terms of unilateral measures and counter measures by some members, deadlock in important areas of negotiations and ongoing impasse in the appointment of members of the Appellate Body of WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism.

BIS launches facility to view Indian Standards online free of cost, which are listed in various Quality Control orders as mandatory. Please click here to view listed Indian Standards.