**Executive Summary**
The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), has established a high-level Advisory Group (AG) on Ease of Doing Business (EoDB). Chaired by Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, the group will focus on simplifying compliance filings, rationalizing e-forms, and strengthening digital governance in alignment with the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision and MCA's order dated 31 December 2025. The AG aims to provide strategic guidance and recommend measures for compliance efficiency.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Establishment and Purpose:**
* IICA constituted a high-level Advisory Group on Ease of Doing Business.
* The group aims to simplify compliance filings, rationalize e-forms under the Companies Act, and strengthen digital governance.
* Aligns with the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision and MCA's previous order.
* **Functions and Mandate:**
* Provide strategic guidance on rationalizing compliance requirements through e-forms.
* Examine global best practices to ensure India's corporate regulatory architecture is efficient and investor-friendly.
* Recommend measures for compliance efficiency and reducing the regulatory burden on businesses.
* Assess the feasibility of proposed reforms and develop a phased implementation roadmap.
* Advise on reducing duplicative filings through consolidation, automation, and event-based processing mechanisms.
* Facilitate stakeholder consultations, undertake impact assessments, and suggest draft amendments to the Companies Act.
* **Composition and Support:**
* Chaired by Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General & CEO, IICA.
* Members represent government, academia, industry, and professional bodies (listed in the document).
* The School of Business Environment, IICA, will serve as the Secretariat.
* **Research Study:**
* IICA has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to undertake a research study titled “Re-envisioning Ease of Doing Business for Viksit Bharat 2047”.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)**
* **Impact:** Enhanced regulatory environment, improved compliance efficiency, and reduced regulatory burden.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with the Advisory Group, implement recommended reforms and support research initiatives.
**Businesses**
* **Impact:** Simplified compliance processes, reduced regulatory burden, and a more efficient corporate regulatory architecture.
* **Action Required:** Engage in stakeholder consultations and adapt to new compliance requirements and procedures.
**Investors**
* **Impact:** Improved investor-friendly regulatory environment.
* **Action Required:** Monitor changes in the corporate regulatory architecture.
**IICA**
* **Impact:** Positioned to lead the efforts for easing business in India.
* **Action Required:** Provide secretariat support to the advisory group, undertake research and consultations, and coordinate activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA): An institute functioning under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, tasked with establishing a high-level Advisory Group.
Advisory Group on Ease of Doing Business: A high-level group constituted by IICA to focus on simplifying compliance filings and strengthening digital governance under the Companies Act.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA): The ministry under whose aegis IICA operates and which is collaborating on the Ease of Doing Business initiative.
Companies Act, 2013: The Act under which the rationalization of e-forms and strengthening of digital governance is to be carried out.
Viksit Bharat @2047: The Government of India's vision for a robust, transparent, and globally competitive business ecosystem by 2047.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
IICA Constitutes High-Level Advisory Group on
Ease of Doing Business under the Chairmanship
of DG & CEO
Advisory Group to Focus on Simplifying Compliance Filings,
Rationalising e-Forms under the Companies Act, and
Strengthening Digital Governance
Posted On: 18 FEB 2026 5:59PM by PIB Delhi
New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), functioning under the aegis of the Ministry
of Corporate Affairs (MCA), has constituted a high-level Advisory Group (AG) on Ease of Doing
Business (EoDB) under the Chairmanship of Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General &
CEO, IICA. The initiative follows the Ministry’s order dated 31 December 2025 and aligns with the
Government of India’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, aimed at fostering a robust, transparent, and
globally competitive business ecosystem.
The constitution of this Advisory Group marks a significant step towards enhancing India’s regulatory
environment by simplifying corporate compliance processes and leveraging technology-driven governance
frameworks. The Group will provide strategic guidance on rationalising compliance requirements through
e-forms prescribed under the Companies Act, 2013, while examining global best practices to ensure that
India’s corporate regulatory architecture remains contemporary, efficient, and investor-friendly.
The Advisory Group has been entrusted with a comprehensive mandate to recommend measures for
compliance efficiency and reducing the regulatory burden on businesses.
The Group will assess the feasibility of proposed reforms and develop a phased implementation roadmap
to facilitate smooth execution. It will also advise on reducing duplicative filings through consolidation,
automation, and event-based processing mechanisms, while providing guidance on the creation of system
artefacts such as an Integrated Form Blueprint to improve user experience and regulatory clarity.
Additionally, the Advisory Group will facilitate stakeholder consultations to promote participatory
policymaking, undertake impact assessments to evaluate improvements in compliance efficiency and ease
of doing business, and suggest draft amendments to the Companies Act, related rules, and other allied
matters to support a modern, transparent, and technology-driven corporate regulatory framework.
The Advisory Group is chaired by Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General & CEO, IICA.
The distinguished members representing government, academia, industry, and professional bodies,
include:
Shri Shantanu Mitra, Senior Economic Advisor, MCA
Shri Sanjay Shorey, Director General of Corporate Affairs, MCA
Shri Balamurugan D, Joint Secretary, MCAProf. Harpreet Kaur, Vice-Chancellor, National Law University, Jodhpur
Shri Ashish Kumar Chauhan, MD & CEO, National Stock Exchange of India Ltd.
Shri Ajay Bahl, Founding Partner, AZB & Partners
Shri Bahram N. Vakil, Founding Partner, AZB & Partners
Shri P. R. Ramesh, Former Chairman, Deloitte India
Prof. M. P. Ram Mohan, Professor, IIM Ahmedabad
Prof. Vasanthi Srinivasan, Professor, IIM Bangalore
Shri Pavan Kumar Vijay, Founder, Corporate Professionals; Past President, ICSI
Shri Rahul Matthan, Founding Partner, Trilegal
Dr. Pankaj Dikshit, Executive Director & Chief AI/Digital Officer, Cygnet.One
Representatives from ICAI, ICSI, and ICMAI
Representatives from CII, FICCI, and ASSOCHAM
Prof. Garima Dadhich, Associate Professor & Head, School of Business Environment, IICA (Member-
Convener)
The School of Business Environment, IICA, will serve as the Secretariat to the Advisory Group and
support its research, consultations, and coordination activities.
As part of this broader reform initiative, IICA has also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to undertake a comprehensive research study titled “Re-
envisioning Ease of Doing Business for Viksit Bharat 2047.” The study is expected to generate
evidence-based recommendations that support policy innovation and administrative reforms.
*****
NB/ONP
(Release ID: 2229728) Visitor Counter : 767
Read this release in: Urdu , ही