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NEW DELHI: Govt policy think tank Niti Aayog has recommended that licences, permits and NOCs should have perpetual validity, except in cases where renewal is required for reasons of national security, serious harm to public safety, human health, environment, or in public interest, among a series of measures to ensure a “trust-based regulatory framework”.A panel headed by Niti Aayog member Rajiv Gauba has also suggested that inspections be carried out by accredited third parties selected through computer-assisted randomised processes based on risk assessment. Officials said that by ensuring predictability, proportionality and fairness, such a system reduces enforcement burden, promotes innovation and sustains confidence, improving governance outcomes. The suggestions have been sent to ministries and departments.The panel has also suggested that even in cases of renewal of licences, permits and NOCs for reasons such as national security and serious harm to public safety or health, the validity period may be for five or 10 years. It has said that licencing and compliance requirements must be proportionate and graded by risk, and there should be no requirement of prior approvals for licences, permits and NOCs in ordinary cases. “Any activity not explicitly prohibited under the law shall be exempted from prior permission,” the think tank said. It has also said registration may be required for maintenance of database or other important purposes, but these must not be subject to approval or rejection. Self-registration based on minimal documentation shall be the norm, it has said.In its bid to eliminate ‘inspector raj’, Niti Aayog has said that inspections by accredited third parties should be the norm and departments must put the selection and periodic performance assessment criteria for third parties in place. “Inspection by govt officers will be only when necessary and through well-defined SOPs,” it said.With focus on decriminalising offences, Niti Aayog has told ministries that minor, procedural and technical offences should be decriminalised and criminal offences should be only for serious offences. It has also suggested the need to have interoperability at ministry level so that information once submitted need not be fed to the system again.
