CM Yogi Adityanath Directs Removal of Redundant Rules, Calls for Trust-based Governance

Lucknow, January 22: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress of reforms being implemented under the Compliance Reduction and De-regulation Phase-II in Uttar Pradesh. He said, “The objective of the government is to deliver trust-based, transparent, and time-bound governance by freeing citizens and entrepreneurs from unnecessary procedures, permits, and inspections.”Emphasising outcome-driven governance, the Chief Minister directed that the impact of every reform must be clearly visible on the ground, so that citizens genuinely experience a simpler and more efficient system.The Chief Minister noted that Uttar Pradesh has earned a strong national identity through the successful implementation

of Compliance Reduction Phase I. He said, “Phase-II aims to institutionalise these reforms and make them permanent.” This phase, he stressed, is not merely about amending rules, but about transforming administrative processes and the mindset of governance.Clarifying the intent of deregulation, the Chief Minister said, “It does not mean the removal of oversight, but rather the simplification of rules and greater transparency by eliminating unnecessary controls.”He reiterated the government’s commitment to making Uttar Pradesh the leading state in the country in terms of both ease of living and ease of doing business.The meeting was informed that in the rankings released by the Cabinet Secretariat in January 2026, Uttar Pradesh was declared the best-performing state in the Compliance Reduction Phase-I. Under Phase-II, reforms are being implemented in a phased manner across nine themes, 23 priority areas, and five optional priority areas.Reviewing land-use reforms, it was stated that efforts are underway to eliminate or simplify complex permissions, such as Change in Land Use, in order to protect farmers and landowners from avoidable difficulties. Special emphasis is being placed on removing the requirement for separate land-use permissions in planned areas in line with the master plan, while also simplifying land conversion procedures in unplanned areas.In the building and construction sector, processes including plan approvals, layout approvals, and completion certificates are being brought under a risk-based framework. The promotion of self-certification and deemed approvals under this system is intended to reduce delays and provide significant relief to citizens and builders.The meeting also reviewed reforms related to utilities and inter-departmental approvals. It was informed that processes across various departments are being integrated onto a single digital platform with clearly defined timelines, ensuring that industries and institutions are not required to make repeated visits to multiple offices.In the energy sector, procedures for electricity connections, load enhancement, and technical approvals are being simplified, with priority given to online and auto-approval systems to accelerate industrial activities.On environmental clearances, the meeting noted that unnecessary approvals for low-risk activities are being eliminated through a trust-based approach. For high-risk cases, a transparent and time-bound clearance mechanism is being ensured, while maintaining a balance with environmental protection.Detailed discussions were also held on reforms in the tourism, education, and health sectors. Permissions related to tourism projects, educational institutions, and healthcare services are being simplified to encourage investment, expand services, generate employment, and improve facilities for citizens.The Chief Minister directed all departments to implement their respective reforms within the stipulated timelines and ensure continuous monitoring. He emphasised that these reforms are not limited to industries and investors, but are equally aimed at simplifying the everyday lives of citizens, whether it involves building a house, obtaining electricity and water connections, or securing permissions for small services.The meeting further highlighted that under Phase-II, focused efforts are underway to reduce the number of inspections, remove outdated and irrelevant regulations, and make all processes fully digital and time-bound. Clear responsibilities are also being assigned to each department to ensure accountability and effective implementation of reforms.