Centre Pushes Deregulation Norms To Boost Ease Of Doing Business For India Inc
Measures announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 to ease compliance for India Inc are being fast-tracked, official sources have said.
Measures announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 to ease compliance for India Inc are being fast-tracked, a senior government official told Moneycontrol.
According to the official, the steps are aimed at accelerating the implementation of Ease of Doing Business (EODB) 2.0, the next phase of reforms, building on initiatives rolled out since 2014.
The Centre is preparing to set up a high-level regulatory reforms committee to streamline norms for the non-financial sector, simplify foreign investment rules, and roll out the second edition of the Jan Vishwas Bill, which proposes further decriminalisation of minor offences.
According to a senior government official cited by Moneycontrol, proposals under EODB 2.0, including decriminalisation and simplification of tax processes, will be accelerated. The official added that the Centre plans to use this opportunity to push forward deregulation, with a regulatory reforms committee to be set up soon to speed up decision-making across multiple areas.
The deregulation push also aims to cushion industries that face higher tariffs under the US administration's new trade policy. India's exports to the US are currently subject to a 25% tariff, set to double from August 27, though categories like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and petroleum products remain exempt.
In the FY26 Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a host of measures to further improve ease of doing business, including a review of certification, license, and permission norms in the non-financial sector. The proposed committee is expected to submit its report within a year.
The budget also outlined an Investment Friendliness Index of States, likely to be launched in 2025, and a new framework under the Financial Stability and Development Council to drive growth in the financial sector.
'Given global uncertainty, wherever we can provide certainty, we will. Export diversification will take time, so our focus must remain on domestic reforms," the official told Moneycontrol.
Meanwhile, implementation of the Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0, which seeks to decriminalise over 100 provisions across multiple laws, is already underway. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 18 and is expected to be referred to a Select Committee soon.
'There are low-hanging fruits in policymaking—deregulation, lowering compliance, simplifying processes. These are the nuts and bolts that need fixing," the official added.
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