Odisha Cabinet Clears Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 to Ease Business Regulations

The Odisha Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has approved the Odisha Jan Vishwas Bill-2026, the second phase of the state’s regulatory reform aimed at reducing compliance burdens on businesses and citizens

The Industries Department’s proposed Bill seeks to amend 62 provisions across 16 state Acts administered by 11 departments. It goes beyond the decriminalisation measures introduced under the Odisha Jan Vishwas Act, 2025, by simplifying licences and permissions, removing overlapping approvals and extending the validity of several registrations.

The reforms are divided into two schedules. Schedule I covers 35 amendments across 11 Acts, including replacing imprisonment and disproportionate fines for minor technical or procedural offences with monetary penalties and simpler administrative mechanisms.
Schedule II proposes 27 amendments across five Acts to rationalise nine regulatory approvals. These include longer licence validity, fewer renewals and intimation-based registration or NOC mechanisms where appropriate.
The Bill also aims to eliminate duplication in licensing. In some cases, businesses holding a municipal trade licence may not need separate licences from other state departments. Other proposed changes include longer agricultural market licence validity, simpler gram panchayat licences and easier permissions for nameboards, public-street works and certain temporary commercial activities.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the reforms are intended to reduce regulatory delays and litigation while improving administrative efficiency and boosting confidence among citizens, businesses and investors.