Seven states, includingAndhra Pradesh, Gujarat,Haryana,Karnataka, Punjab, Naduand Telangana, have emerged as top achievers among states and union territories in theBusiness Reforms Action Plan(BRAP) assessment, covering 15 areas and 301 reform action points.
Based on their performance, states and UTs have also been categorised as achievers, aspirers and emerging business Ecosystems, unlike the past, when they were ranked.
They are now being pushed to decriminalise provisions in their laws so that minor offences do not result in harsh penalties. The move comes as a similar exercise is under way at the Centre with several laws, such as the Companies Act, already seeing changes. We have requested states to look very closely at decriminalisation…Make it a civil penalty or compoundable for minor violations, saidAnurag Jain, secretary in the department for promotion of Industry and internal trade, which undertakes the exercise.