Jammu, Nov 4 The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday allowed eligible enterprises to commence operations on self-declaration through single window setup and granted them protection from routine inspections for three years under the Jammu and Kashmir Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026.
The government has also designated the executive committee as the single nodal agency for all investment-related approvals required by enterprises across the Union Territory, including those operating in notified industrial areas, parks and clusters.
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on October 29 passed the Jammu and Kashmir Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2026, after a debate during which chief Minister Omar Abdullah defended his government’s push to make it easier for businesses to operate in the Union Territory, saying the government should create conditions for private industry rather than run commercial establishments itself.
A notification issued by the General Administration Department on Wednesday said enterprises could obtain a certificate of in-principle approval (CIPA) by submitting a declaration of intent to the district empowered committee.
“It is hereby notified that, after coming into force of the Jammu and Kashmir Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026, an enterprise may obtain a Certificate of In-Principle Approval on the basis of a self-declaration furnished through the Declaration of Intent in accordance with sections of said Act,” a notification issued by Commissioner- Secretary M Raju said.
The certificate will be valid for three years, during which enterprises can establish, construct and operate their businesses while obtaining regular approvals, the notification said.
The government has also introduced time-bound approvals, with deemed approval in case of delays, and provisions for self-certification or third-party certification.
The CIPA is to be issued within three working days for enterprises in approved industrial parks and within 30 days for those outside such parks. Failure to issue the certificate within the stipulated period will result in deemed approval.
The notification said enterprises would be protected from routine inspections for three years from the grant of the certificate, except as provided under the Act.
According to an another notification issued by Raju, the committee will coordinate pre-establishment, construction, connection and operation-stage approvals under the Jammu and Kashmir Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026.
The move aims to streamline regulatory clearances and ensure time-bound approvals for investors by bringing various departments and agencies under a single mechanism.
The notification states that the Executive Committee will function as a single point of contact for investors in coordination with District Empowered Committees.
The district-level committees will receive declarations of intent and issue certificates of in-principle approval under the supervision of the Executive Committee, it said.
(PTI News)
