The Centre is set to make its ease of doing business assessment more rigorous as the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) shifts the focus from policy announcements to measurable implementation under the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) 2026. States and Union Territories will now be required to furnish verifiable evidence—including live dashboards, system certificates, transaction logs, screenshots and video demonstrations—to prove that reforms are operational, accessible and delivering tangible outcomes.
Since its launch in 2015, BRAP has evolved from a process-driven framework into one focused on enabling digital systems and governance reforms. The 2026 edition marks another significant shift by emphasising deeper structural reforms through process re-engineering, deregulation and system convergence, following consultations with industry, implementing departments and field officials. The objective is to reduce regulatory bottlenecks and improve the overall business environment.
A key feature of BRAP 2026 is its enhanced evidentiary framework. States will be required to submit live URLs of online systems, certificates confirming that digital platforms are operational, validation credentials, dashboard links, video demonstrations and anonymised transaction data. The guidelines also require these systems to remain publicly accessible for at least five years after implementation, while departments are expected to phase out corresponding offline processes.
The reform agenda spans the entire business lifecycle, covering investment facilitation, inspection systems, labour compliance, land and property administration, building approvals, environmental clearances, utility connections, contract enforcement and decriminalisation of minor business-related offences. The overarching goal is to simplify regulatory processes without compromising governance standards.
For investors and businesses, BRAP 2026 proposes several measures to streamline approvals. These include a unified Know Your Customer (KYC) system, perpetual validity for select licences and clearances, pre-filled renewal applications and automatic licence continuation upon digital payment of fees. The framework also recommends eliminating redundant approvals, reducing repetitive documentation and promoting seamless digital service delivery.
Labour reforms form another important pillar of the action plan. Proposed measures include unified registration, consolidated annual returns, risk-based inspections and digitised statutory registers, creating a more transparent, predictable and efficient compliance framework for employers.
The framework also seeks to simplify environmental approvals by encouraging self-certification and third-party certification for low- and moderate-risk businesses. In addition, it places greater emphasis on transparency in legal enforcement and dispute resolution through proposals such as an electronic litigation management system, publication of commercial court performance data and the adoption of standardised contracts.
The significance of BRAP 2026 lies not only in the breadth of reforms it proposes but also in its insistence on demonstrable implementation. By making measurable outcomes and transparency central to state performance, the framework signals a shift from reform intent to reform delivery. If implemented effectively, BRAP 2026 could become one of the most consequential policy initiatives for investors, manufacturers and service-sector businesses seeking faster approvals, lower compliance costs and a more predictable regulatory environment. |
