Single-window clearance
Also called: Single window system · Topic: Industrial Policy, Public Sector, MSMEs and Disinvestment · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Single-window clearance is a system where an investor gets all the approvals and licences they need through one interface, such as one office or one website. Without it, the investor has to go to many departments separately for land, environment, power, labour and tax permissions. Using one window saves time, cuts paperwork and lowers the compliance burden, meaning the time and cost of meeting rules. This matters most for small firms. It is part of India's drive to improve ease of doing business, which is how simple it is to start, run and close a firm.
Example
The National Single Window System (2021) lets an investor apply for central approvals, and many state approvals, from one online portal. Most states also run their own single-window portals. DPIIT's Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) ranks states partly on how well these portals work.
Don't confuse with
- Delicensing: Delicensing removes the need for a licence altogether. A single window keeps the approvals but makes them easier to get.