India’s next major economic reform could come not from introducing more policies, but from removing unnecessary regulations. Speaking at Global FinTech Fest 2026, NITI Aayog member Rajiv Gauba called for a sweeping overhaul of the country’s regulatory architecture to make doing business simpler and accelerate investment.
Gauba argued that businesses continue to navigate a complex web of licences, permissions, approvals and compliance requirements across different levels of government. While regulations remain essential for consumer protection and market stability, excessive complexity can increase costs, delay projects and discourage entrepreneurship.
The message is particularly relevant as India seeks to become a global hub for manufacturing, fintech, startups, digital services and emerging technologies. Faster approvals and simplified compliance could improve productivity while making the country more attractive to both domestic and international investors.
Deregulation, however, should not mean eliminating oversight. The bigger opportunity lies in creating smarter regulation—digital, transparent, risk-based and outcome-oriented. Technology can automate compliance, reduce repetitive filings and allow regulators to concentrate resources on genuinely high-risk activities.
For fintech and digital businesses, regulatory simplification could have an even greater impact. Companies operating across payments, lending, insurance, data and AI often interact with multiple regulatory frameworks. Greater coordination and regulatory clarity could significantly accelerate innovation and market expansion.
India’s earlier reforms unlocked entrepreneurship through liberalisation and digital public infrastructure. The next transformation could come from reducing regulatory friction. If implemented effectively, deregulation can lower business costs, improve competitiveness and release entrepreneurial energy—turning ease of doing business into speed of doing business.
