The 9th Meeting of the National Traders’ Welfare Board was held at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, with a focus on easing compliance, supporting small traders, and strengthening digital and institutional support for trade. The meeting reviewed recent reforms and ongoing initiatives aimed at improving ease of doing business and promoting inclusive economic development.
Jan Vishwas and Compliance Reform
The meeting brought into light the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026. The Bill amends 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts. It decriminalises 717 provisions to reduce the compliance burden on businesses. The reform is intended to make business operations simpler and more trader-friendly.
Support for Food Businesses and Small Traders
The role of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India was also discussed. The licensing and registration process for food businesses has been simplified. This is expected to help small traders and food operators comply more easily with regulatory requirements. Key support measures discussed included:
- Udyam Registration for easier formalisation of small enterprises.
- Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana for collateral-free credit support.
- Measures to help traders expand business activity and entrepreneurship.
Digital Trade and E-Commerce Promotion
The meeting noted support for e-commerce under the Rajasthan Trade Promotion Policy, 2025. The policy provides reimbursement of 75% of platform fees, excluding shipping charges, up to ₹50,000 per year for one year. A presentation was also made on ONDC’s DigiDukaan platform, a B2B initiative currently operational in Hyderabad. It is planned for expansion to Jaipur and Bengaluru to strengthen digital access for small retailers and kirana stores.
State Welfare Boards and Trader Representation
The Board stressed the need for State-level Traders’ Welfare Boards through coordination with State Governments and trade associations. A State Traders’ Welfare Board has already been formed in West Bengal. Similar efforts are underway in Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, and other States and Union Territories. The Board also works to resolve trader representations in a time-bound manner through coordination with Ministries and Departments.
Last Modified: April 28, 2026