**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3876, regarding a National Trade Policy for Small Traders, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has prepared a draft National Retail Trade Policy. Consultations have been conducted with central ministries, state governments, and major industry/trade associations. The policy focuses on strategies for the overall development of retail trade by promoting ease of doing business. Key measures include reducing compliance burdens, enhancing access to credit, and decriminalizing minor offenses for all retail formats. The policy emphasizes assessing license requirements, removing renewal requirements, inspection reforms, facilitating public service delivery, and creating a single-window facilitation mechanism. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has considered inputs from various stakeholders during the policy drafting process.
Key Entities Referenced
National Trade Policy: A proposed policy by the Government of India with specific provisions for small and micro traders.
SHRI PRAVEEN KHANDELWAL: Member of Parliament who asked the question about the National Trade Policy.
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY: The government ministry responsible for commerce and industry.
SHRI JITIN PRASADA: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry who provided the answer.
National Retail Trade Policy: A draft policy prepared focusing on the overall development of retail trade.
Delhi: A city in India mentioned as a place where trader bodies and market associations were consulted.
Chandni Chowk: A traditional market hub in Delhi, India, from which inputs have been incorporated.
State Governments: Referring to state governments in India, consulted in preparing the National Retail Trade Policy
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3876.
TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 12TH AUGUST, 2025.
NATIONAL TRADE POLICY FOR SMALL TRADERS
3876. SHRI PRAVEEN KHANDELWAL:
Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:
वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री
(a) whether the Government proposes to frame a National Trade Policy with
specific provisions for small and micro traders;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to consult trader bodies and
market associations in cities like Delhi; and
(c) whether any inputs from traditional market hubs like Chandni Chowk have been
incorporated and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (c): A draft National Retail Trade Policy has been prepared. Consultations have
been held with various stakeholders including Central Ministries/Departments,
State Governments and major Industry/trade associations. The Draft National
Retail Trade Policy focuses on preparing strategies for overall development of
retail trade through targeted efforts to promote ease of doing business in retail
sector through several measures to reduce compliance burden, enhance ease
of access to credit and decriminalization of minor offences for all formats of
retail trade. Special emphasis is placed on assessing the requirement of
licenses, removal of renewal requirement, inspection reforms, facilitating public
service delivery, creation of single window facilitation mechanism etc.
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