Indian gov't showcases first year in power, hails quick decision-making as hallmark

The Indian government on Friday showcased its achievement in the first year since coming to power, highlighting quick decision-making as its hallmark and claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 18 foreign trips left New Delhi's marks on these countries.

"There was a general environment of gloom a year ago. That has been replaced by hope and excitement," Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told the media in the national capital as he pledged to bring in more reforms for the country's development.

"There is absolute clarity on the direction in which government wants to go -- of growth and development. There is focus on transparency in decision-making, ministerial discretions have been removed."

Blaming the main opposition Congress party for positioning itself against growth and development, he said "India can reach double digit growth, decision-making has to be quick. When we obstruct, it is the journey to that 10 percent we are obstructing. "

The finance minister, considered to be Modi's second-in-command in the government, also came down heavily on the prime minister's detractors who had criticized his foreign trips in the last one year -- he had visited 18 countries, including the U.S., China and South Korea.

"The number of foreign trips the prime minister made, he went to 18 countries... and he had talks with several countries, this has helped in leaving India's mark on these countries," Jaitley said.

The finance minister also asserted that the government is committed to providing a clean and transparent administration, saying "Good governance always has to blended with clever politics and we are conscious of this."

"Every department has been working overtime in this last one year. It has been a directional year."

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in the general elections held in May last year, under the leadership of social media-savvy Modi, decimating the Congress party that ruled India for a decade and was accused of its involvement in corruption scandals and failing to check inflation. Endi