Tripura has clinched the number one spot in India's national ranking for implementing business-friendly reforms. This assessment, part of the Business Reforms Deregulation 1.0 initiative, was reviewed by the Prime Minister during the recent 5th Chief Secretaries' Conference held in New Delhi.
Tripura's Triumph and National Leaders
Chief Minister Manik Saha stated that this recognition highlights the state's dedicated efforts to streamline regulations and build a stronger commercial ecosystem. Tripura shared the top honors with Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, marking them as the leading performers in the country.
The recent rankings also identified Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Rajasthan among the top twelve states, indicating a widespread push for deregulation across India. While sixteen states and Union Territories are categorized as "moving forward," eight others are still trailing in their reform efforts.
Gearing Up for Deregulation 2.0 in 2026
Building on the success of the first phase, the central government is preparing to roll out Business Reforms Deregulation 2.0 in 2026. This next stage will be spearheaded by Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan and aims for greater regulatory efficiency.
The new phase will concentrate on 30 priority areas spread across seven key sectors and government departments. A significant shift in Deregulation 2.0 is the inclusion of education, environment, and health into the reform framework for the first time, acknowledging their critical role in governance and economic productivity.
Focus Areas and State-Level Innovations
The upcoming reforms will place a strong emphasis on education and utilities & permissions, with five focus areas dedicated to each. Land-related compliances, identified as a persistent challenge, will account for three priority areas. The sectors of environment, building & construction, and health will each see two focus areas.
While recent labour code changes have reduced burdens, one labour-related area will be retained to maintain momentum. The program will also expand beyond its initial 23 core areas, introducing three comprehensive priorities and seven optional reform zones.
Several states have already set benchmarks with innovative changes:
- Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand eliminated land conversion requirements.
- Tripura and Odisha removed negative lists for mixed land use.
- Haryana adopted progressive building by-laws to aid urban planning and business expansion.
This reform journey began with Phase I, launched in January 2025, which initially focused on land, labour, building and construction, utilities, and regulatory permissions. The planned expansion into new sectors signals a holistic approach to improving India's ease of doing business landscape.
