In 2014 India ranked 142nd of 189 economies on the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business index. Starting a company took weeks and a dozen separate filings. Central and state statutes together imposed tens of thousands of compliances, many with criminal penalties for procedural lapses — a late return or an unfiled form could in principle mean imprisonment. That risk fell hardest on small firms without a compliance department.
Ease of Doing Business
Ease of Doing Business
A sustained deregulation drive reduced more than 47,000 compliances by November 2025, including 4,458 provisions decriminalised that once carried jail terms for procedural lapses. The Jan Vishwas Act (2023) alone decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 central laws. India's World Bank Ease of Doing Business rank climbed from 142 in 2014 to 63 in 2020 before the index was retired, and the National Single Window System brings central and state approvals onto one platform. The counter shows compliances reduced.
47,000+
Compliances reduced
4,458
Provisions decriminalised
142 → 63
World Bank EoDB rank
Compliances reduced (to Nov 2025)
| Year | Compliances reduced |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 25 '000 |
| 2022 | 39 '000 |
| 2023 | 41 '000 |
| 2024 | 42 '000 |
| 2025 | 47 '000 |
2021
0'000
Compliances reduced
20212025
Since 2021
Added
+22 '000
2021
25 '000
2025
47 '000
Why it matters Every removed filing is time and money returned to a business — and disproportionately to the small business that cannot afford a compliance department. Decriminalisation matters even more: an entrepreneur should not risk imprisonment for a late form. Lower compliance cost is a direct input into investment, formalisation and jobs.
- Over 47,000 compliances reduced across central and state governments (November 2025).
- 4,458 provisions decriminalised by November 2025, including 183 under the Jan Vishwas Act (2023).
- World Bank Ease of Doing Business rank: 142 (2014) → 63 (2020).
- The National Single Window System consolidates approvals across ministries and states.
- Corporate tax cut to 22% (15% for new manufacturing companies) in 2019.
History
Notable milestone
India's rank climbed from 142 (2014) to 63 (2020) before the index was discontinued in 2021, placing India among the top 10 improvers. More substantively, more than 47,000 compliances were reduced by November 2025, including 4,458 provisions decriminalised, including 183 provisions across 42 central laws under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023.
How it works
Reform ran on four tracks. Digitisation: company incorporation, tax filing, customs and land records moved online. Consolidation: the National Single Window System brings central and state approvals into one application. Decriminalisation: procedural offences converted from imprisonment to monetary penalties. Tax: GST replaced a maze of levies with one national market, and corporate tax was cut to 22% — 15% for new manufacturing.
Outlook
The effect shows up downstream: record FDI inflows, over 2.12 lakh recognised startups (January 2026), and a sharp rise in formal company registrations. GeM, the government's e-marketplace, moved public procurement onto a transparent platform with cumulative procurement of over ₹20 lakh crore (August 2026). The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code gave capital a way out, which is what makes investors willing to put it in.
By the numbers
World Bank EoDB rank 142 (2014) → 63 (2020). 47,000+ compliances reduced (November 2025). 4,458 provisions decriminalised, 183 under Jan Vishwas 2023. Corporate tax cut to 22% (15% new manufacturing). 2.12 lakh+ recognised startups. Sources: DPIIT, World Bank, PIB.
Data current to: November 2025
Source: DPIIT (via PIB) — compliances reduced by central ministries and States/UTs under the Reducing Compliance Burden exercise, recorded on the Regulatory Compliance Portal since January 2021, cumulative, thousands: more than 25 (December 2021), 39 (December 2022), 41 (December 2023), 42.03 (September 2024) and 47 (November 2025, linked) — of which 16,108 simplified, 22,287 digitised, 4,458 decriminalised and 4,270 redundant compliances removed. No count exists before the exercise began. · link