Ease of Doing Business on agenda as Centre’s Taskforce to visit Kashmir on July 15

Srinagar, July 13: In what is being seen as a significant move towards reforming India’s regulatory ecosystem, a high-level Task Force set up by the Government of India is scheduled to visit Srinagar on July 15.

The Taskforce, led by  K.K. Pathak, Special Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat and a senior IAS officer of the 1990 batch, has been at the helm of a nationwide effort to reduce bureaucratic red tape and make business operations across the country smoother and more transparent.

According to a senior official who informed about the meeting and its details, the visiting delegation will hold a key stakeholder interaction at 2:30 PM in the Civil Secretariat.

"The meeting will involve representatives from the business community, chambers of commerce, and senior government officials to deliberate on policy bottlenecks and regulatory challenges faced at the regional level."

The visit forms part of the Centre’s ambitious plan to cut down outdated and redundant laws that have long hindered business growth, particularly for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). With a clear focus on ‘De-regulation and Reducing Compliance Burden’, the Taskforce has been meeting stakeholders across states to understand the real challenges on the ground and build a policy framework that is both efficient and inclusive.

The initiative, which was launched following the 4th National Conference of Chief Secretaries on January 24 this year, is part of the government’s broader push for regulatory reforms under the banner of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’. It seeks to modernise outdated procedures, eliminate unnecessary approvals, and create a seamless interface between citizens and administration.

Under  Pathak’s leadership, the Taskforce has taken a consultative approach that values feedback from industry insiders and civil society. One of the defining aspects of the reform process has been the emphasis on digital transformation. By leveraging technology, the Taskforce aims to reduce the need for physical documentation and in-person visits to government offices, replacing them with efficient online services.

Another notable direction of the reform drive is the decriminalisation of minor regulatory infractions, which previously exposed businesses to heavy penalties or even prosecution for administrative oversights. By replacing such provisions with monetary fines, the Taskforce aims to foster a climate of compliance through cooperation rather than coercion.

In recent months, several procedural changes piloted by the Taskforce have begun yielding tangible outcomes, including faster approvals, reduced paperwork, and lower compliance costs. These efforts have already made a marked difference in several sectors and are expected to gain further traction following the input gathered from regional consultations, such as the upcoming one in Srinagar.

The interaction on July 15 will be crucial in understanding the unique challenges faced by entrepreneurs and enterprises in Jammu and Kashmir. With sectors such as horticulture, handicrafts, tourism, and information technology playing an increasingly important role in the region’s economy, stakeholders view this visit as an opportunity to advocate for region-specific policy support.

Officials have expressed hope that the Srinagar meeting will provide valuable insights and further refine the national policy framework on regulatory reforms. As India continues to climb global rankings on ease of doing business, such grassroots-level engagements remain key to ensuring that the benefits of reform are felt across all states and sectors.