Dehradun: Uttarakhand has been awarded the Top Achievers Award in five key reform categories under the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP 2024), the highest number received by any state or union territory in the country.
The awards were announced at the Udyog Sammelan 2025 held in New Delhi on Tuesday, recognizing Uttarakhand’s outstanding performance under the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP 2024). Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal presented the prestigious awards to Uttarakhand Government’s Industry Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey and Director General and Commissioner of Industries Dr. Saurabh Gaharwar. Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada was also present on the occasion.
Uttarakhand has been recognized as the state with the highest achievement in five reform areas in the country: business entry, construction permit enablers, environmental registration, investment enablers, and labor regulation enablers. This marks a significant milestone in Uttarakhand’s Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) journey. From 23rd place in 2015 to becoming a national leader in reforms under BRAP 2024, this is a significant journey.
Receiving the award, Industry Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey said that under the able guidance and continuous supervision of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, it is a proud moment for Uttarakhand to be recognized as a top achiever in five reform areas and topping the list at the national level. From 23rd place in 2015 to achieving national recognition today, this reflects our progress in transparency, efficiency, and investor-centricity.
He said that the state has transformed its business facilitation ecosystem through complete digitization of processes covering the entire approval lifecycle, from application submission and online payment to real-time tracking, final approval, renewal, and incentive disbursement. The state currently offers over 200 services across more than 20 departments online through a single-window system, significantly reducing physical contact points and increasing transparency. Key departments such as Revenue, Labor, Pollution Control Board, Development Authority, Forest, Irrigation, Jal Sansthan, and Electricity are integrated into this system.
The Industry Secretary stated that to further support investors, the state has established the Uttarakhand Society for Promotion of Investment, Startup and Entrepreneurship (UK-SPISE), a dedicated team for investor facilitation and end-to-end project support. Special attention has been paid to simplifying business processes in the state. Uttarakhand has also highlighted its commitment to sustainable and inclusive development. These reforms aim not only to accelerate investment but also to maintain ecological integrity and equitable development.
Our goal is to make the state the country’s leading destination for industrial investment. Receiving the highest award in BRAP 2024 is a testament to our policy transparency, industry-friendly environment, and investor confidence. Industrial development is becoming a vehicle for the state’s prosperity and new employment opportunities for its youth. Ranking among the top states in the country in BRAP 2024 will attract investors to Uttarakhand and accelerate the state’s economic growth.
Pushkar Singh Dhami – Chief Minister of Uttarakhand
