A number of steps have been taken by the Government to improve Ease of Doing Business in India. These measures include delicencing a large number of defence components and dual use products; making application for industrial licence, Industrial Entrepreneurs Memorandum, environment and forest clearance, registration with Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) and Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) online and extending validity of industrial licence and security clearance give by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Comparative ranking in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report is a function of reforms made by various countries. While India can make reforms on its part, its rank depends on how close it is to the best performing country compared to other countries. Thus, time required to improve India’s position amongst top 50 cannot be stated with certainty.

Number of documents, time and cost involved in export and import of goods are the factors that hamper India’s business with other countries.

The information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

Ease of Doing Business reforms streamline licences and online clearances, but ranking improvement remains uncertain due to comparative reforms. Measures streamline regulatory requirements by delicensing defence and dual use items, enabling online applications for industrial licences, environmental and forest clearances and labour registrations, and extending validity of industrial licences and security clearances to reduce procedural friction and compliance costs; however, improvement in international business ease rankings is uncertain because it depends on comparative reforms by other countries, and export import documentation, time and cost remain impediments to trade facilitation.