Govt Unwilling To Release BRAP Ranking Report

The government seems unwilling to release the report that ranked states under the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) to boost the ease of doing business (EoDB). Kerala topped the list, followed by Andhra Pradesh.

Bizz Buzz contacted two senior officials in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry which ranked states to access the report, but there was no response from them. Other officials, however, said that the government is reluctant to release the report because states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party have been eclipsed by better performance of non-BJP-ruled states on account of EoDB.

While the two best states are under the non-BJP parties, the state with the worst performance, Arunachal Pradesh, is under the BJP.

Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced the ranking on September 5. While felicitating the top performers under the BRAP, he recognized the outstanding work of states and Union Territories in enhancing EoDB. States like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat were highlighted for their remarkable reforms in streamlining processes and providing efficient services to businesses and citizens alike, a press release said.

Many states have shared their best practices, the Minister said, adding that healthy competition and collaboration is the key to the progress of the nation. Orissa has reformed its mines sector, UP has started promoting investment, Maharashtra is attracting FDI by improving infrastructure, and Sikkim is adding value to organic farming.

Each state should study the industry policies of other states and try to improve itself, Goyal said. Rajasthan, for example, can teach other states on ways to improve their policies to make themselves more attractive to tourism, he said.

He released the Regulatory Compliance Burden (RCB) booklet which showcases the government’s ongoing efforts to simplify, digitalize, and eliminate outdated regulations that hinder business operations. Over 42,000 compliances related to businesses and citizens have been reduced, including the decriminalization of more than 3,800 provisions and the removal of redundant laws.