In a significant step toward simplifying certification and reducing compliance burdens, an Orientation Session for Chief Secretaries of States and Union Territories was held on April 9, 2025, to introduce the Deregulation Module within the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade’s (DPIIT) Regulatory Compliance Portal (RCP).
The virtual session, chaired by Smt. Vandana Gurnani, IAS, Secretary (Coordination), Cabinet Secretariat, aimed to enhance monitoring and evaluation of compliance reduction and deregulation efforts across India.
Representing Odisha, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Anu Garg, IAS, participated in the session from the Second Floor Conference Hall of Lokseva Bhawan, joined by Secretaries and senior officers from key departments. The Industries Department, designated as the nodal agency for deregulation, along with the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (IPICOL), briefed Smt. Garg on Odisha’s progress. They highlighted department-wise measures aligned with the 23 Priority Areas outlined in the Deregulation Docket, showcasing the state’s commitment to systemic reforms.
A live demonstration of the MIS-enabled Deregulation Portal, developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and National e-Governance Division (NeGD), was a key highlight of the session. The portal serves as both a monitoring tool and an interactive platform connecting State Governments’ Deregulation Cells with the Cabinet Secretariat’s Task Force. Its features include a dashboard for Chief Secretaries and State Nodal Officers (SNOs), user management, task assignment workflows, upload and approval mechanisms, status tracking for priority areas, and the ability to share best practices. The platform empowers Chief Secretaries to assign tasks, approve submissions, and forward them to the Task Force, with options to review, edit, or mark submissions as ‘Not Applicable’ or ‘Already Implemented.’
Odisha has already laid a strong foundation for deregulation. A State-Level Task Force Meeting, chaired by the Chief Secretary on February 15, 2025, followed by a discussion with Cabinet Secretariat Task Force member Shri Sandeep Poundrik, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, on March 19, 2025, identified actionable reforms. The Industries Department shared the deregulation docket with all relevant departments on March 17, 2025, ensuring clear assignment of responsibilities.
Post-demonstration, departments were directed to implement previously identified reforms, explore additional measures within their priority areas, and begin using the portal to familiarize themselves with its functionalities. Smt. Anu Garg emphasized the need for collaboration, stating, “Simplifying certification and reducing compliance burdens will significantly improve the ease of doing business while fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.” She urged departments to leverage the platform to showcase Odisha’s proactive approach and best practices in deregulation.
The session saw participation from key Odisha officials, including Smt. Chithra Arumugam, Principal Secretary, Labour and ESI Department; Shri Vishal Kumar Dev, Principal Secretary, Electronics & IT and Department of Energy; Smt. Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department; Smt. Uma Nanduri, PCCF (KL) & Member Secretary, State Pollution Control Board; Shri Umashankar Dash, DIG, Fire Services; and representatives from IPICOL and other departments.
As Odisha aligns with national efforts to streamline regulations, the state is poised to enhance its business ecosystem, attract investments, and promote sustainable economic growth through this transformative initiative.
