Ease of doing business, ease of living is the idea behind Jan Vishwas: Piyush Goyal

According to Goyal, these reforms, from law simplification to GST rationalisation, all feed into a larger vision of promoting both ease of doing business and ease of living.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal says Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decade in office has been defined by one consistent effort, making life easier for both businesses and ordinary citizens.

In an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, Goyal said the government has scrapped more than 150 obsolete laws, simplified countless procedures, and decriminalised minor offences so that people don’t face jail time for small lapses.

“From Day 1, the Prime Minister has focussed on honesty, transparency and trust. Nobody needs influence to get a job today. This honesty of government has earned the trust of the people,” Goyal said.

Big push for decriminalisation

The minister pointed to the Jan Vishwas Bill, calling it a 'two-way trust' initiative. The first law has already decriminalised 355 provisions, and Goyal said his department has identified another 500 provisions that could be decriminalised.

“The idea is clear, reduce paperwork and compliance burden so businesses can focus on business, and citizens can live easier lives,” he added.

GST cuts to lift demand

On the recent GST Council decision to cut taxes on coal and lignite, Goyal said the timing couldn’t have been better. The move, he argued, will push up domestic demand and help soften the blow exporters may face from global tariffs.

“GST cuts will not only benefit consumers but also help industry stay competitive as we expand our markets,” Goyal said, noting that India is currently in talks with nearly 50 countries to open up new export opportunities.

Ease of doing business, ease of living

According to Goyal, these reforms, from law simplification to GST rationalisation, all feed into a larger vision of promoting both ease of doing business and ease of living.

“The Prime Minister has always believed that trust and transparency are the foundation of governance. That’s why people have confidence in this government,” he said.