Chandigarh, October 17 – In a major stride towards creating a transparent and investor-friendly ecosystem, Haryana has achieved significant progress in its ambitious Compliance Reduction and Deregulation (CRD) Programme. Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi chaired a comprehensive review meeting today to assess the state’s reform initiatives aimed at transforming Haryana into one of India’s most business-friendly destinations.
The review revealed impressive advancement across all sectors, with 5 reform points fully implemented, 14 actively under implementation and 3 under consideration by the Central Government. This systematic approach demonstrates Haryana’s unwavering commitment to reducing regulatory burden and fostering entrepreneurship, particularly for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“The aim of deregulation is not just to reduce paperwork but to build trust between government and citizens. Haryana must set national benchmarks in compliance efficiency, business facilitation, and public transparency,” stated Chief Secretary Sh. Rastogi, emphasizing the state’s vision for governance transformation.
*Land Use Simplification*
The Department of Town and Country Planning has revolutionized Change of Land Use (CLU) permissions by reducing documentation requirements to just three essential documents—proof of ownership, project report, and indemnity bond. Instant CLU permissions have been introduced for designated industrial zones, while MSMEs benefit from relaxed approval norms. These reforms, implemented through an office order dated October 13, 2025, are now accessible on the Deregulation Portal.
*Building & Construction Made Easy*
Building regulations have been rationalized to maximize land utilization, with ground coverage now permitted on entire zoned areas subject to safety compliance. The process for Occupation and Completion Certificates has been simplified, reducing required documents to three and expanding self-certification to cover more building categories, including high-risk structures by October 31, 2025.
*Progressive Labour Reforms*
In a landmark move towards gender inclusivity, the Labour Department has removed prohibitions on women working in industries previously classified as ‘hazardous’ and enabled night-time employment for women across factories and commercial establishments with appropriate safety measures.
The threshold for compliance under the Shops and Establishments Act has been raised to 20 workers, substantially reducing regulatory burden on small businesses. Shop registration timelines have been slashed from 15 days to just 1 day, while working hour limits have been rationalized—allowing up to 10 hours daily, 48 hours weekly, and 144 hours of overtime per quarter, with online exemptions already granted to 11 factories.
*Environmental Compliance Streamlined*
The Haryana State Pollution Control Board has reduced consent processing timelines from 30 to 21 working days through auto-renewal systems and self-certification for low-risk industries. Third-party certification for green category units is being rolled out, with 712 non-polluting industry sectors reclassified as White Category and exempted from consent requirements.
*Utilities and Permissions Fast-Tracked*
Fire safety NOCs now have extended validity—5 years for low-risk and 3 years for high-risk establishments—with accredited third-party inspections being implemented by November 15, 2025. Electricity and water connections, including groundwater permissions, have been expedited through the Invest Haryana portal, cutting approval timelines from 90 to 45 days.
*National Leadership in Jan Vishwas Implementation*
Haryana has emerged as a national leader by introducing a state-level Jan Vishwas Ordinance on October 12, 2025, decriminalizing 164 provisions across 42 acts in 17 departments—the most extensive such reform undertaken by any Indian state. This historic move reduces criminal penalties and promotes compliance through facilitation rather than prosecution.
*Enhanced Transparency and Monitoring*
All state services are being integrated into the State Single Window System, linked to the National Single Window System (NSWS), with revamped dashboards ensuring real-time transparency. Third-party inspections for low- and medium-risk businesses have been implemented, reducing government intervention while maintaining quality standards.
Chief Secretary Sh. Rastogi appreciated the collaborative efforts of all departments and directed officers to update progress regularly on the MIS and Deregulation Portals, ensuring accountability and continuous monitoring of reform implementation within fixed timelines.
Additional Chief Secretary, Town & Country Planning and Urban Estates Department, Sh. Apoorva Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Labour Department, Sh. Rajeev Ranjan, Director General, Industries & Commerce, Sh. Yash Garg, and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
