GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 8th Feb. In the latest edition of the World Bank’s ‘Logistics Performance Index Report (2023): Connecting to Compete 2023’, India has secured the 38th position out of 139 countries. This marks a notable advancement for India, with a six-place improvement from its 2018 ranking of 44 and a sixteen-place improvement from its 2014 ranking of 54.
To further enhance India’s logistics performance, an Inter-Ministerial dedicated team has been established, comprising Stakeholder Ministries/Departments. These entities are diligently working on targeted action plans aimed at improving logistics across all six parameters of the Logistics Performance Index, including Customs, Infrastructure, Ease of arranging shipments, Quality of logistics services, Tracking and Tracing, and Timeliness.
Furthermore, the National Committee for Trade Facilitation (NCTF) has adopted a comprehensive approach, featuring a three-tiered structure consisting of a National Committee on Trade Facilitation, a Steering Committee, and Focused Working Groups focusing on various aspects such as infrastructure upgradation.
In support of these efforts, the Prime Minister launched the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for multimodal connectivity and the National Logistics Policy, aimed at enhancing logistics efficiency and reducing costs. Digital reforms, including the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) and the Logistics Data Bank, have been implemented to facilitate ease of doing business and track and trace cargo effectively.
Additionally, various line Ministries have initiated measures such as the expansion of railway track electrification, reduction of export and import release times by the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), and the launch of NLP Marine, a single-window interface platform for port-related logistics operations.
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash provided this information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, emphasizing the government’s commitment to enhancing India’s logistics infrastructure and performance on the global stage.
