JAMMU, April 19, 2025: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu to assess progress on Compliance Reduction and Deregulation under the Ease of Doing Business framework, aimed at creating a more conducive regulatory environment for businesses in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment by streamlining regulatory frameworks across sectors.
The meeting, aligned with a national initiative spearheaded by the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, in collaboration with the PMO, NITI Aayog, DPIIT, and the Ministry of MSME, focused on eliminating redundant regulations, reducing compliance burdens—particularly for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises —promoting digitisation, enabling single-window clearances, and decriminalising minor business law violations.
Attendees included Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretaries of Home and Power Development Department (PDD), Commissioner Secretary Industries, and Administrative Secretaries of Housing & Urban Development, Forest, Rural Development, Public Works, Labour & Employment, Food Civil Supplies, and Law Departments. Officers from Srinagar joined via video conferencing.
CM Abdullah directed officers to break down action plans, most with five-to-six-month timelines, into smaller, fortnightly deliverables to ensure steady progress. He emphasized close monitoring of implementation, urging departments to identify and address delays promptly. The Chief Minister mandated that finalized action plans be uploaded to the MIS portal immediately and implementation commence without delay. To ensure accountability, he established a bi-monthly review mechanism to evaluate reform progress.
Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce, Vikramjit Singh, briefed the meeting on the efforts of the J&K State Task Force, led by the Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Government of India. The Task Force has identified 23 priority areas, including land use, labour reforms, building regulations, utility permissions, and governance practices. Action plans with clear timelines and reform measures have been developed in coordination with relevant departments.
Key reforms discussed included flexible zoning frameworks for mixed-use development, digitisation and simplification of the land use change process, streamlined fire service clearances, and rationalised road width norms for rural industries. Updated building bylaws aim to minimise land loss, while GIS mapping of industrial estates and integration with the India Industrial Land Bank (IILB) were highlighted as critical steps. Labour reforms enabling night-time employment for women, raising worker thresholds, decriminalising minor violations, and simplifying licensing procedures were also deliberated. The integration of water and electricity services into the single-window system and full linkage of J&K’s Single Window Portal with the National Single Window System were prioritised to enhance efficiency.
CM Abdullah stressed a proactive approach, reiterating the importance of uploading approved action plans to the MIS portal and ensuring continuous monitoring and periodic reviews for timely and effective reform implementation. “Our goal is to create a seamless and transparent business ecosystem that drives economic growth while supporting MSMEs and fostering innovation,” he said.
The meeting underscores Jammu and Kashmir’s commitment to aligning with national EoDB goals, positioning the Union Territory as an attractive destination for businesses through regulatory simplification, digital transformation, and inclusive governance.