Centre's district-level playbook to steer business reforms in states

With the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) pushing for improved ease of doing business at the state level, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has asked states to implement a sweeping set of district-level reforms.

- DEEPAK PATEL

These range from appointing facilitation officers for investments above ₹50 crore and setting up start up cells, to ensuring easier access to loans for startups and updating geo tagged industrial land banks.

These directions were issued in the last week of October under the Centre’s newly conceptualised District Business Reform Action Plan (DBRAP), Business Standard has learnt.

In its communication to state governments, the DPIIT said the prime minister has directed the formation of a dedicated cell in the Cabinet Secretariat to support ease of doing business in states. The DBRAP is designed to institutionalise reform implementation at the district level — particularly in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, industrial clusters and rural investment zones — and to complement state-level reforms by tracking the efficiency of approvals and services delivered locally, the department said.

During a meeting in last month, the DPIIT asked states to designate a "relationship officer" for every investment proposal above 50 crore. This officer would be responsible for facilitating the entire lifecycle of the project, with monthly progress updates monitored online. Government officials said the move is intended to provide end-to end handholding for highvalue investments, improve confidence and investor shorten approval timelines.

The DPIIT did not respond to queries by Business Standard on this matter.

A significant portion of the proposed reforms focuses on strengthening the startup ecosystem at the district level. To support startups in smaller towns and districts, the DPIIT has asked states to set up a dedicated Startup Cell inside every District Industries Centre (DIC), which are district-level offices providing support and services to industries.