Srinagar, Oct 3: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has welcomed the Jammu and Kashmir Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2026, describing it as a landmark legislative initiative aimed at transforming the regulatory environment for businesses, particularly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
In a statement, FCIK said the legislation addresses several concerns the Federation has consistently raised through representations, submissions and interactions with the Government regarding the difficulties faced by enterprises in dealing with multiple permissions, repetitive documentation, no-objection certificates (NOCs), inspections and prolonged decision-making processes.
The Federation said it was encouraged by the acknowledgement by the Omar Abdullah-led Government of the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs and the public due to excessive formalities, procedural duplication and delays, coupled with wide discretionary powers at different levels.
FCIK said regulation was necessary to protect public safety, the environment and other legitimate public interests, but should facilitate lawful economic activity rather than impede it.
It said the Bill’s principles of “Permission by Exception”, “One State”, proportionality and risk-based regulation, reliance and certainty, and transparency and predictability represented a significant shift from a conventional permission-driven regulatory system.
Of particular significance, FCIK said, were provisions aimed at preventing enterprises from being repeatedly asked to furnish information already available with another government authority. It also welcomed the provision that unpublished compliance requirements could not be imposed and that, where different lawful regulatory options were available, authorities should adopt the option imposing the least regulatory burden while adequately safeguarding public interest.
The Federation said the reforms assumed greater importance in Jammu and Kashmir, where unemployment and other economic challenges could not be addressed through government employment alone.
“A vibrant private sector, particularly MSMEs, must play a central role in creating jobs, generating incomes, developing skills and expanding economic activity,” FCIK said, adding that facilitating enterprise should be viewed as an economic imperative rather than a concession to entrepreneurs.
FCIK particularly welcomed provisions relating to deemed approvals where authorities fail to decide applications within prescribed timelines, in-principle approvals, rationalisation of licences and NOCs, self and third-party certification, and risk-based inspections.
According to the Federation, these measures could help shift the regulatory relationship from excessive prior permissions and administrative discretion towards clearly defined rules, timelines, responsibility and accountability.
FCIK also welcomed the proposed three-year moratorium on routine inspections and coercive regulatory measures, subject to safeguards against serious violations.
The Federation said inspections should serve genuine safety, environmental and public-interest purposes and should not become a recurring source of disruption for compliant enterprises.
FCIK said the philosophy underlying the legislation was consistent with its repeated submissions to the Government that an entrepreneur’s productive time should be devoted to production, innovation, marketing, employment and expansion rather than pursuing files, permissions and certificates that provide limited regulatory value.
The Federation expressed appreciation to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his Government for taking cognisance of the concerns raised by the business community and seeking to address them through a comprehensive legislative framework rather than piecemeal administrative interventions.
It said the initiative sought to replace unnecessary discretion with rules, delays with timelines, duplication with convergence and excessive permissions with greater trust and accountability.
FCIK also thanked the print media of Jammu and Kashmir for consistently highlighting the difficulties faced by enterprises and MSMEs.
Through editorials, independent reporting and publication of representations and statements of business organisations, the Federation said, the media had helped keep regulatory complexity, procedural delays and Ease of Doing Business in public discourse.
The Federation said sustained media coverage had also helped highlight that the difficulties faced by enterprises were not merely concerns of individual businesses but had wider implications for investment, employment, government revenues and the overall economy.
FCIK expressed hope that the same reform-oriented approach would be reflected in the forthcoming Industrial Policy, particularly in addressing the accumulated problems of existing MSMEs, revival of viable stressed enterprises, access to affordable credit, local procurement and other structural constraints confronting industry.
“This legislation responds to concerns we have consistently placed before the Government—that enterprise cannot flourish under avoidable procedural burdens and administrative delays,” FCIK said, adding that the industrial fraternity appreciated the Government for recognising these concerns and translating regulatory reform into a legislative framework.
The Federation said the ultimate success of the legislation would be measured by its implementation on the ground.
It hoped that the rules and guidelines framed subsequently would faithfully preserve the intent and spirit of the legislation and ensure that procedural complexities did not dilute its stated objective of creating a more predictable, transparent and business-friendly regulatory environment.
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