Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Policymaker Calls Deregulation Key to India’s Next-Generation Reforms
Rajiv Gauba said India should make many government rules simpler.
He wants fewer licenses, approvals, permissions and repeated renewals.
Simpler rules could help businesses and new ideas grow.
A High-Level Committee is reviewing laws and government processes.
A Deregulation Task Force is helping apply these ideas in states and cities.
Gauba said the central government is encouraging reforms through cooperation and competition.
He also discussed how fintech has helped more people access financial services.
He said fintech rules should protect people while still allowing innovation.
He pointed to Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker and account aggregators as useful digital systems.
NITI Aayog member Rajiv Gauba called deregulation central to India’s next-generation reform architecture.
Gauba urged a systematic rollback of licensing, approval, permission and frequent-renewal requirements.
A High-Level Committee and Deregulation Task Force are reviewing laws and processes under trust-based governance.
He described incentives for states and cities as cooperative federalism with a competitive edge.
Gauba said fintech rules should be principles-based, technology-neutral and proportionate to risk while protecting the public interest.
- Who
- Rajiv Gauba, a member of NITI Aayog, made the remarks.
- What
- He called for deregulation and a systematic review and rollback of licensing, approval, permission and renewal requirements.
- When
- The remarks were made on Thursday at the Global Fintech Fest 2026.
- Where
- The remarks were made at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in New Delhi.
- Why
- Gauba said simpler governance could encourage innovation, support growth and balance fintech oversight with development.
- Main proposal
- Make deregulation a central focus of India’s next-generation reform architecture.
- Specific changes urged
- Review and roll back licensing, approval, permission and frequent-renewal requirements.
- Review mechanism
- A High-Level Committee is reviewing laws, regulations and administrative processes.
- State and city reforms
- The Deregulation Task Force is extending trust-based governance principles to states and municipal governments.
- Federal approach
- Scheme incentives are linked to reform milestones, while projects are selected through challenge mode.
- Digital infrastructure
- Gauba cited Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker and the account aggregator framework as systems with global potential.
- Fintech regulation
- Rules should be principles-based, technology-neutral and proportionate to risk, while promoting competition and non-discriminatory access.
