Budget 2025: CII Suggested 10 point agenda for trade reforms ahead of budget

New Delhi| Ahead of the upcoming budget, industry body CII presented a 10-point agenda to promote ease of doing business reforms. The aim is to reduce the compliance burden, simplify the regulatory framework and improve transparency. Under ‘Immediate Policy Intervention’, CII suggested that all regulatory approvals – at central, state and local levels should be provided mandatorily only through the National Single Window System. In addition, CII proposed to enhance the capacity of the courts to speed up the process of settlement of disputes and to rely more on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms.

CII recommended an integrated framework
To simplify environmental compliance, CII recommended an integrated framework, which would compile all requirements into a single document. It also said that to help businesses achieve easy land availability, states can be motivated to develop an online integrated land authority, which aims to simplify land banks, digitize land records and provide information on disputed lands. Will have to be provided.

Suggestion to convert IILB into a national land bank
To help in land acquisition at the national level, CII suggested converting India Industrial Land Bank (IILB) into a national land bank, which could get Union Budget support. CII also said that India has focused on improving ease of doing business over the last decade, but the process needs to continue in some specific sectors. CII also suggested that a law be passed to ensure timely processing of industry applications and delivery of services from central ministries, with a legal obligation on all public officials to deliver timely services and resolve complaints.

CII calls improvement in trade facilitation important
Describing the improvement of trade facilitation as important, CII noted that there was a need to make more attractive and easier to join the Authorized Economic Operators Programme, which provides members with a range of priority approvals, as part of a 10-point agenda. While characterizing ‘high and increasing pendency of tax disputes’ as a major issue, CII said that reducing income tax litigation by reducing pendency of cases at the level of Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and part of EODB reforms. Advance pricing agreements as, There is a need to improve the effectiveness of ADR mechanisms such as advance decision boards and dispute resolution plans.