UP Govt Moves To Scrap 99% Criminal Provisions In Trade Laws Under 2025 Reform Bill

In a landmark step towards industrial and labour reforms, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to abolish nearly 99 per cent of criminal provisions in 13 state laws related to trade and industry. With this move, the state is set to become the first in the country to reclassify such provisions on a large scale, replacing imprisonment clauses with financial penalties and administrative actions.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while chairing a high-level meeting on Thursday, said the reforms will make trade easier while safeguarding workers’ rights. “Embracing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sentiment of ‘Shramev Jayate’ (Triumph of Labour), we must bring reforms that are beneficial for both entrepreneurs and workers,” he stated.

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The government will soon introduce the Ease of Doing Business (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, covering acts such as the Excise Act, Molasses Act, Tree Protection Act, Revenue Code, Sugarcane Act, Groundwater Act, Municipal Corporation Act, Plastic Waste Act, Cinema Act, and Panchayat Acts. The aim is to give them a more practical and business-friendly form.

Departments have been asked to provide feedback, and most have expressed support. The CM directed that objections from certain departments be addressed so that the bill balances the interests of both industry and workers.

The meeting also discussed labour law reforms, including longer validity for factory licences, flexible rules for shops and establishments, and greater employment opportunities for women. The CM stressed adopting self-verification and third-party audit systems to ensure transparency in inspections.

As part of the reforms, the government is preparing to roll out Nivesh Mitra 3.0, an upgraded version of the single-window clearance system.

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The new platform will feature:

• A common application form
• PAN-based identification
• A smart dashboard
• Multilingual support
• An AI-powered chatbot

The CM emphasised that the timely delivery of services and the quick redressal of investor grievances will be the top priority. “The new version of Nivesh Mitra should be launched soon to give fresh momentum to the ease of doing business in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.

With these sweeping reforms, Uttar Pradesh is looking to position itself as a national leader in investor-friendly governance, while ensuring worker welfare remains central to its policies.