J&K Chief Secretary Orders Removal of Unnecessary Compliance for Ease of Doing Business

Srinagar, March 09: In a major push towards improving the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has directed all government departments to identify and eliminate unnecessary compliance requirements that burden businesses and citizens.

Chairing a high-level meeting to review the implementation of the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) 2024, Dulloo emphasized that outdated regulations should be removed to streamline business operations. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including ACS Jal Shakti Department, Commissioner Secretaries from Forest, I&C, and FCS&CA Departments, and other key officers.

The Chief Secretary instructed departments to conduct broad-based consultations with stakeholders to gather feedback for a comprehensive regulatory overhaul. He stressed the need for inclusive decision-making by holding separate feedback sessions in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions.

Key Directives Issued:

✅ Identification & removal of redundant compliances to ease processes for businesses and citizens.
✅ Strengthening the Single Window System to ensure all government services are digitally accessible within a defined timeframe.
✅ Digitization of MSME data to track trade details, working capital, credit, transactions, and manpower. Director Industries, Jammu, will oversee this process.
✅ Industries & Commerce (I&C) Department to compile department-wise deregulation suggestions to reduce bureaucratic hurdles.

Progress on BRAP 2024:

Commissioner Secretary I&C, Vikramjit Singh, briefed that out of 434 reform points, 424 have already been implemented, while the remaining 10 will be completed before March 15, 2025. The necessary compliance evidences have been uploaded on the national portal, with the final assessment by DPIIT expected in April 2025.

The Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP), initiated by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), is now in its seventh edition since its launch in 2015. The initiative is aimed at making India’s regulatory framework more business-friendly.

Dulloo highlighted that these reforms will strengthen J&K’s industrial sector, improve investor confidence, and enhance employment opportunities across the Union Territory.