Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, April 3

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has constituted a high-level committee to overhaul its industrial policy framework and accelerate reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business, officials said on Friday.

The move, formalized through a government order issued by the General Administration Department from the Civil Secretariat, reflects an effort to reposition the region as a more competitive destination for investment amid shifting economic priorities.

The panel will be chaired by the administrative secretary of the Finance Department, with the administrative secretary of the Industries and Commerce Department serving as member secretary. 

The managing director of Jammu and Kashmir Bank will also be part of the committee.

Officials said the group had been given a broad mandate to rework the industrial and business landscape in the region. 

Its central task is to prepare a revised draft of the industrial policy, taking into account evolving economic trends, investor expectations and local development needs.

The committee will also review a set of related policy frameworks, including draft proposals on logistics, procurement and price preference, which officials said play a critical role in shaping the investment climate.

The aim, according to the order, is to align these policies with national benchmarks and global best practices while addressing longstanding constraints that have affected industrial growth in the region.

Beyond drafting policy, the panel is expected to focus on implementation – an area that has often lagged behind reform announcements. 

It has been tasked with identifying administrative bottlenecks, simplifying procedures and improving coordination across departments.

Officials said the committee would also establish mechanisms to track progress on reforms and ensure accountability among implementing agencies, with a particular emphasis on reducing compliance burdens and increasing transparency.

A key component of the initiative will be consultation with stakeholders. 

The panel is expected to hold regular discussions with industry representatives, entrepreneurs and other groups to better understand on-the-ground challenges and incorporate feedback into policy design.

The formation of the committee signals a renewed push by the administration to address structural impediments to investment and to create a more predictable and business-friendly regulatory environment in Jammu and Kashmir.