A report titled “Assessment of State Implementation of Business Reforms” was released today.  This report captures the findings of an assessment of reform implementation by states, conducted jointly by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the World Bank Group and KPMG as the knowledge partner, the Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

The assessment, the first of its kind, has been conducted to take stock of reforms implemented by states in the period January 1 to June 30, 2015 based on the 98-point action plan for business reforms agreed between DIPP and State and Union Territory governments on December 29, 2014.

According to the assessment, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan have implemented over 50 percent of the 98 point action plan business reforms studied in the assessment.  Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are also among the top 10 states in the assessment.  No state has implemented 75 per cent or more of the proposed reforms.

The assessment recognises the fact that most states have already embarked on ambitious reform programs or expanded their ongoing reform efforts since the announcement of the 98-point action plan.  The assessment has identified good practices on different parameters.  For example: Punjab leads in the area of “Setting up a Business”, as it features an online single window system for registrations and licenses that cover most of the regulatory services in the country.  Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have also made significant progress in this area.  Maharashtra, followed by Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, were ranked highest in “Obtaining Infrastructure Related Utilities,” with clearly defined timelines for electricity, water and sewage connections, and a reformed electricity connection application process.  Similarly, Karnataka received the highest score on “Registering and Complying with Tax Procedures.” Due to its comprehensive automation and process reengineering efforts.  Jharkhand leads the country in “Carrying out Inspections,” since its labour management system implementation has also focussed on inspections reform.

Across the country, states have made good progress in general tax reforms like mandating e-registration for VAT and CST; allowing online payment and filing of returns for various state taxes; providing e-filing support through service centres and helplines; and risk-based tax compliance inspections.  Twenty nine states allow VAT to be paid online, and 28 states allow CST to be paid online.  While most states allow e-filing of VAT and CST, 21 states have established helplines for users.  Twenty five states have defined timelines for VAT registration and 21 have defined timelines for CST registration.

However, the report also flags a multitude of reforms that still need to be implemented effectively by most states.  A majority of states are yet to begin implementing electronic courts to resolve commercial disputes, i.e., infrastructure to allow for e-filing of disputes, issuance of e-summons, online payments, e-cause lists and digitally signed court orders.  Twenty six states are yet to introduce reforms along a wide range of labour inspections under various acts, or on inspections related to building permits.  About 25 states lack online availability of information on land banks, and use of GIS systems to track industrial land parcels.

The report also highlights the need to properly communicate, monitor and evaluate these reforms, to ensure that their impact is being felt on the ground.

“What this report does very well is to provide a roadmap for states serious about improving their business environment and creating jobs.  This has an inclusive objective as it is the small and medium enterprises which will gain the most from these reforms,”said Onno Ruhl, World Bank country Director in India.  “The World Bank stands ready to assist state governments in this important agenda,” he added.

Data for the assessment was collected through a structured questionnaire that was sent to each state and union territory government.  Following the completion of the data collection and state visits, the data was evaluated in detail jointly to ensure that the same yardstick was applied to measure progress for all states.  The detailed report can be seen at the website http://dipp.nic.in.

State implementation of business reforms: progress in e-services and tax automation, but critical gaps in e-courts and inspections remain. Assessment reports state-level progress implementing a national action plan for business reforms, noting good practices-online single window business registration, defined timelines for utility connections, tax automation and risk-based inspections-alongside persistent gaps in e-court infrastructure, comprehensive inspection reform, and online land bank and GIS availability; it urges improved communication, monitoring and evaluation to translate reforms into measurable on the ground outcomes.