JAMMU, November 5, 2026 – In a massive push to boost industrial growth and improve the business climate in the Union Territory, the Jammu and Kashmir government has rolled out sweeping reforms under the newly enacted J&K Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026, officially scrapping multiple permission-based procedures in favor of a simplified, time-bound regulatory system.
Under the new framework, notified on Wednesday following the Act’s publication in the Official Gazette on October 1, eligible enterprises are now empowered to commence business operations based solely on a “self-declaration of intent” and a system-generated Certificate of In-Principle Approval (CIPA).
To facilitate this transition, the government has mandated that the District Empowered Committee must assist enterprises in securing necessary approvals within a strict, time-bound window. Crucially, the new rules stipulate that if the committee fails to make a decision within the stipulated period, the approval will be “deemed to have been granted.” The enterprise can then immediately download their deemed clearance certificate through a designated online portal.
Providing a major sigh of relief to the industrial sector, the government order provides a blanket protection for enterprises from routine departmental inspections for a period of three years from the date the Certificate of In-Principle Approval is granted. Inspections during this period will only be permitted in cases involving serious complaints and strictly in accordance with Sections 13 and 14 of the new Act.
Furthermore, the legislation introduces provisions for self-certification and third-party certification for specified industrial activities, significantly reducing the burden of repeated departmental verifications. The reforms also allow businesses to undertake activities at any location of their choosing within the UT, provided the activity is not explicitly prohibited under the Negative List detailed in Schedule II of the Act.
These historic reforms mark a paradigm shift from a restrictive, permission-based regime to a modern, compliance-based system, aimed at cutting down red tape, encouraging investment, and positioning Jammu and Kashmir as a preferred destination for business and entrepreneurship.
Published by True Roots Media Network