New Delhi, Sep 5 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh topped the chart in State Rankings on the basis of State Business Reform Action Plan 2019, while Uttar Pradesh and Telangana secured the second and third place respectively.
The Government on Saturday released the 'State Business Reform Action Plan 2019' ranking which shows how Indian states have fared in enhancing Ease of Doing Business for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Madhya Pradesh stood at fourth place, Jharkhand-- fifth, Chhattisgarh-- sixth and Himachal Pradesh--seventh.
Delhi was at 12th place and Maharashtra at 13th.
In a press conference here, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the report.
Ms Sitharaman announced the 4th edition of Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) ranking of states.
Mr Goyal said the dual spirit of cooperative and competitive federalism, which promotes oneness when it comes to national interest and competition among states to attract investment and jobs, will drive the nation faster towards 5 trillion dollar economy by 2025.
'We are looking at a digital platform where all central, state and local approvals get captured on a single website through a single payment gateway, thereby further improving Ease Of Doing Business,' he said.
Mr Goyal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is revolutionising the business environment for prosperity, job creation and attracting FDI.
Ms Sitharaman said by working on the State Business Reform Action Plan, States are marching ahead to realise the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat is not for making India inward-looking, but to build on our strengths, one of the ways in which we can become more competitive,' she said.
'India is seen taking the reform process seriously which showed when foreign direct investment in the country increased even during the Covid-19 pandemic, amid what was called world’s strictest lockdown. Some states have shown extraordinary energy in putting together action plans and making sure that reforms happen. States have embraced the true spirit behind the State Business Reforms Action Plan," said Ms Sitharaman said.
Some states have shown extraordinary energy in putting together action plans and making sure that reforms happen, she said, adding that States have embraced the true spirit behind the State Business Reforms Action Plan.
As many as 36 States and UTs have participated in the implementation of State Business Reform Action Plan 2019, aimed at improving business environment in States by simplifying procedures, digitization of information and easing compliance burden.
Mr Goyal said the government is working with all states on a 'One Product One District programme, we will soon be unveiling a programme where every district in the country will be focussing its energies on the outreach of their own products of excellence'.
The various programmes and reforms implemented during the last few years are being recognized the world over as game changers which are helping India overcome the difficulties of COVID19 and make a quick recovery which is seen in several sectors, he maintained.
Mr Goyal said the Ease Of Doing Business rankings being released today are a reflection of the efforts made by states, the rankings are competitive; India is among the very few nations which has state-specific rankings, which will in turn help the nation improve its ranking .
Mr Puri said, 'The system of ranking states based on implementation of State Business Reform Action Plan will fit in very well in the evolution of a New India, we are sure that this will completely transform the experience of doing business in India.'
'The rankings being announced today and the overall ecosystem produced will drastically reduce regulatory burden and rationalize regulatory regime,' he pointed out.
India is one of the few countries which has Sub-National Ranking, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has been ranking states since 2015 on the basis of implementation of State Business Reform Action Plan.
Ranking of States based on the implementation of Business Reform Action Plan started in the year 2015. Till date, State Rankings have been released for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017-18.The Business Reform Action Plan 2018-19 includes 180 reform points covering 12 business regulatory areas such as Access to Information, Single Window System, Labour, Environment.
The larger objective of attracting investments and increasing Ease of Doing Business in each State was sought to be achieved by introducing an element of healthy competition through a system of ranking states based on their performance in the implementation of Business Reform Action Plan.
The ranking this time gives full weightage to the feedback from over thirty thousand respondents at the ground level, who gave their opinion about the effectiveness of the reforms.State rankings will help attract investments, foster healthy competition and increase Ease of Doing Business in each State.
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