100-day agenda for Modi_ 2019 || Current Affairs||News

100-day agenda for Modi_ 2019

Narendra Modi the mandate of 2019 has brought a thicker stability cushion but a heavier load of expectations. Voters' message in Narendra Modi's inbox is delivered what we want and what we need.

Narendra Modi Prime minister of India

For Narendra Modi  mandate of 2019 has brought a thicker stability cushion but a heavier load of expectations. The voters' message in Modi's inbox is: Deliver what we want and what we need. The bucket list for 1.3 billion can be grouped under three key must-dos - how to remove setbacks of 2014-2019, milestones to launch for 2024 and how to deliver on pet saffron ideological agendas.

The Domestic Agenda

Ram Mandir: The matter is subjudice. RSS and affiliates in early 2019 were keen to declare a time line. But the Modi-Shah duo, in order to avoid a confrontation with the apex court and diluting the 'rising' message image, asked the Sangh to apply the brakes.

Article 35A: BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' has promised annulling the controversial clause that provides special rights to residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP says it was added to the Constitution of India "without Parliament's nod". This is high on RSS's wish list. Government may move with warning depending on the situation in Kashmir.

Infra spending to zoom: The BJP manifesto promises a `100 lakh crore investment in infrastructure by 2024. The government plans to kick start the first tranche of investment from the word go. The road and highways ministry promises to double the length of highways to two lakh km by year of  2024. Top sources said proposals for 50,000-60,000 kms of highways are almost ready and may be cleared within the first month of government formation.

Rural development: Under Phase III of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY), 1.25 lakh km of link routes costing `1.3 lakh crore may get cleared in the first Cabinet meet itself.

National urban mission: About 200 urban clusters as hubs around big cities may be cleared, over and above the 300 large urban centres developed so far.

Smart cities: Smart city mission to expand beyond existing 100. Total value of tenders might be pushed to `1.5 lakh crore by end June. This mission completed four years next month, an anniversary that will be marked with a planned expansion to more cities beyond the 100 covered in Smart City 1.

Housing & Social Welfare: The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), the affordable housing programme for the poor, will be seen as stepped-up efforts in the first 100 days. The social sector ministries have prepared a list of projects that will be launched within a month. Scholarship programmes under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to be extended with better implementation. The Tribal Affairs Ministry is preparing a plan with a major thrust on livelihood and education for tribal students. Minimum support price scheme (MSPS) for minor forest produce to be fine-tuned.

Prdhan mantri awas  yojana

Tough on corruption: Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi managed to escape from India after carrying out economic offences. The government will speed up its efforts to bring back these offenders who have been declared deserter to showcase its intent. Tougher laws to check black money creation, especially through benami activities, could be coming.

Education for everyone: The HRD ministry has drafted a nine-point primacy list including the launch of a National Education Policy, filling of faculty positions, increase in the number of Institutions of Eminence (IoE), revival of the Higher Education Commission of India and start a new accreditation system.

Foreign Policy: The first two months of Narendra Modi's upcoming tenure will see hectic engagement with foreign leaders carrying out diplomacy that will set the tone and tenor of India's foreign policy for the next five years.

Neighbourhood outreach: While in 2014 Prime Minister Modi invited SAARC leaders for his oath-taking ceremony, this time he might not do so, but the focus on neighbourhood would remain. Following tradition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again chosen the neighbourhood as his first foreign destination. He is to travel to the Maldives next month as his first state visit. Maldives and Pakistan were the two South Asian neighbours where Narendra Modi had not paid a State visit, although he did attend President Ibrahim Solih's oath-taking ceremony after he defeated the China-backed autocrat Abdulla Yameen in the elections held last year.

Sources have also told India that the two countries could sign (MLAT), agreement for cooperation on terrorism, transnational crime and criminal matters, during this visit. PM Modi is also eventually to visit Bhutan and Nepal in the coming months. He was due to visit Thimphu in 2018 for the celebrations of 50 years of diplomatic ties. Dhaka is also in talks with Delhi for a visit to Bangladesh.

Incoming visits: Prime Minister Modi would also have a host of leaders visiting India, beginning with BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multiple-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) leaders attending the oath-taking ceremony as chief guests. The other leaders who would be visiting India this year are US President Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Putin, Australian PM Scott Morrison, Japanese premier Shinzo Abe.

Economy & Business:

A new industrial policy, incentives to promote manufacturing in key employment generating sectors, rationalization of direct tax rates and speeding up of mega-infrastructure projects across sectors are between the hundreds of suggestions that are reaching the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) from various Central government departments these days.

The feedback response to a directive from the PMO that sought a priority list of decisions that can be announced and implemented during the first 100 days of the second term of the Narendra Modi government. While there is no clarity on the specific issues or policy measures the government is going to announce, there are few areas which it will not miss.

Union budget: The full Budget, to be presented in July month may see changes in the direct tax rates. On the corporate tax front, the attempt will be to lower the rates marginally. On personal tax, the exemption threshold should increase to `5 lakhs. The government may also announce stringent measures - as part of Budget or otherwise - to avoid indirect tax evasion to compensate for the revenue loss. Additional borrowing for infrastructure funding and institutional mechanisms for long-term financing for infrastructure development projects in the private sector are expected. The purpose will be asset creation and in process, creation of employment opportunities. And process them.

Agriculture: With over 50% of India's population depending on agriculture department for their livelihood, there will be measures to put more money into the hands of farmers and landless labourers.

The Prime Minister's poll promise to take away the threshold for availing the 100% The Central scheme of direct income support to farmer (`6,000 in three installments in a year) should happen.

All the social sector programmes, especially the flagship schemes in the health and employment generation sectors, will see additional push in the first three months of the government.

Ease of doing business: Given the obsession the Narendra Modi government has with improving India's ranking in several global indicators, there will be special emphasis to ensure that India improves its position in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business rankings this year. Relaxation of laws and rules, digitization of data and processes (creation of digital land records is one such initiative that will get a big push) are unlikely to be ignored.

Investment: The government will also announce policies measures aimed at attracting foreign direct investment or domestic private investments and try to showcase India as an ideal place for companies that may be shifting base from China due to  ongoing China-US trade war.

Digital policy: Policies, legislations , rules and regulations to protect Indian interests in digital economy could also be prioritized by the government, though its impact on bilateral trade and investment talks with major economic powers like the USA will be interesting to watch.

To conclude, Modi government's 100-day agenda will be packed with policy and administrative measures that can create a quick impact on businesses and industry - global and domestic - as well as the poor and the marginal Indian citizen. The government would want to be seen that it has hit the ground running.