The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), functioning under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has been at the forefront of enhancing the ease of doing business in India. These efforts have notably improved India’s business environment, as reflected in the country’s climb to the 63rd position in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report (DBR) of 2020, a substantial leap from the 142nd rank in 2014.
DPIIT’s dynamic reform exercise, the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP), plays a crucial role in this advancement. BRAP evaluates Indian states and union territories based on their implementation of specific reforms. These reforms are focused on streamlining regulations and processes, removing unnecessary requirements, and fostering a competitive environment among states and UTs. The areas covered include Information Wizard, Single Window Systems, Online Building Permission System, Inspection Reforms, Labour Reforms, among others.
Another significant initiative led by DPIIT is the coordination with various Ministries/Departments and States/UTs to reduce compliance burdens on citizens and businesses. This comprehensive exercise aims to enhance both Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living by simplifying, rationalizing, digitizing, and decriminalizing government interactions across sectors.
Key focus areas of this initiative include:
1. Simplifying procedures related to applications, renewals, inspections, and record filing.
2. Rationalizing legal provisions by repealing or amending redundant laws.
3. Digitizing government processes to create efficient online interfaces.
4. Decriminalizing minor, technical, or procedural defaults to promote a fear-free environment for businesses and citizens.
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, which was passed in Lok Sabha on 27th July 2023 and Rajya Sabha on 2nd August 2023, and received Presidential Assent on 11th August 2023, is a landmark in this journey. The Act decriminalized 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts administered by 19 Ministries/Departments, focusing on rationalizing criminal provisions and eliminating barriers that hinder business growth.
According to the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Som Parkash, these initiatives have significantly contributed to creating a more conducive business environment in India, facilitating the ease of conducting business activities and fostering the nation’s economic growth.