New Delhi: In a significant stride towards fostering a business-friendly environment, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has been instrumental in propelling India’s ranking on the World Bank’s Doing Business Report (DBR). The latest report, published in October 2019 before its discontinuation by the World Bank, revealed that India secured the 63rd position globally. This marked a remarkable ascent from the 142nd rank in 2014, showcasing a commendable jump of 79 ranks in just five years.
At the forefront of this progress is DPIIT’s commitment to the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP), a dynamic reform initiative. Through BRAP, all states and union territories in the country undergo assessment based on implemented reforms in designated parameters. The focus lies in streamlining regulations, eliminating unnecessary requirements, and enhancing overall business processes. BRAP encompasses various reform areas, including Information Wizard, Single Window Systems, Online Building Permission System, Inspection Reforms, and Labour Reforms. This exercise has not only built a knowledge base but has also fostered healthy competition among states and UTs to enhance their business environment.
DPIIT collaborates with ministries, departments, and states/UTs to reduce compliance burdens on citizens and businesses, aiming to improve both the Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living. The key areas of focus include simplifying procedures, rationalizing legal provisions, digitizing government processes, and decriminalizing minor procedural defaults.
In a landmark move, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, passed in the Lok Sabha on July 27, 2023, and in the Rajya Sabha on August 2, 2023, has played a pivotal role. The Act received the President’s assent on August 11, 2023, and it successfully decriminalized 183 provisions of 42 Central Acts administered by 19 Ministries/Departments.
The Act’s impact has been profound, rationalizing criminal provisions and ensuring that citizens, businesses, and government departments can operate without the looming fear of imprisonment for minor, technical, or procedural defaults. This legislative stride has paved the way for a more rationalized legal framework, removing barriers, and fortifying the growth trajectory of businesses.
Shri Som Parkash, the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, shared this insightful information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, underscoring the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in India.
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