The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has laid out a comprehensive reform roadmap, urging the government to focus on GST simplification, trade policy upgrades, and labour law reforms to accelerate India’s journey toward becoming a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047.
The industry body emphasized that without bold structural reforms, India risks falling short of its growth potential. The proposals highlight the need for predictable policies that foster investment, competitiveness, and inclusive growth.
GST Simplification: The Top Priority
CII has pressed for further simplification of the Goods and Services Tax regime. Multiple rate slabs continue to create compliance challenges, disputes, and distortions. A more streamlined structure would reduce litigation, improve ease of doing business, and enhance government revenue buoyancy.
Simplifying GST credits and reducing classification disputes could especially benefit MSMEs, which face disproportionate compliance burdens.
Trade Policy for Global Competitiveness
CII also called for a recalibration of India’s trade strategy. With global supply chains shifting, India must strengthen its export competitiveness and attract greater FDI. The roadmap suggests clearer tariff structures, deeper FTAs, and investment in logistics to make Indian goods more cost-effective in global markets.
Such steps are seen as critical to positioning India as a trusted China+1 alternative in manufacturing and global trade.
Labour Market Reforms
Labour law simplification remains another key focus. Fragmented regulations and compliance complexities deter investors and increase costs for businesses. CII advocates for more flexible labour codes that balance worker protection with enterprise efficiency, enabling greater formalization and job creation.
For India to sustain 7–8% growth, expanding employment opportunities in both manufacturing and services will be crucial.
Why This Matters
CII’s roadmap reflects industry’s growing push for reforms that go beyond incremental policy tweaks.
For Businesses: Simplified GST, trade facilitation, and labour clarity mean lower costs and higher competitiveness.
For Policymakers: Provides a clear agenda to align reforms with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
For Citizens: Structural reforms ultimately support job creation, income growth, and inclusive prosperity.
India’s economic aspirations require not only investment but also the policy discipline to unlock productivity gains across sectors.
