India’s Ease of Doing Business Performance Strengthened; World Bank B-READY Assessment Scheduled in 2026

1. At a Glance

B-READY (Business Ready) is the World Bank Group's successor to the discontinued Doing Business Report (DBR), assessing 180+ economies over 3 annual cycles starting 2024 [S2][S1].
India, which ranked 63rd in the last DBR (2019), will be evaluated in the Third B-READY Report scheduled for 2026 [S1].
Nodal agency in India: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, which runs the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) [S1][S3].
UPSC relevance: directly tested under GS-III (economy, growth, investment climate) and GS-II (federalism, governance reforms).

2. Why in the News

10 Feb 2026: DPIIT press release announced India's preparation for the Third B-READY Assessment (2026) and launch of BRAP 2024 with next-gen reforms [S1].
World Bank released the B-READY Methodology Handbook, Third Edition (January 2026) ahead of India's inclusion [S2].
Successive 2025-26 reform pushes — deregulation focus in Economic Survey 2024-25 for MSMEs — anchor the political momentum [S3].

3. Background & Evolution

2003: World Bank launched the original Doing Business Report (DBR).
2014-15: DPIIT introduced BRAP to drive competitive federalism on state-level reforms [S3].
2019 (DBR): India ranked 63rd, an improvement of 79 ranks in 5 years (from 142nd in 2014) [S1].
2020: DBR discontinued after data-irregularities controversy [S1].
2024: World Bank launched B-READY — first edition methodology handbook released Oct 2024 [S2].
2026: India to be assessed under Third B-READY Report [S1].
BRAP editions completed: 2015, 2016, 2017-18, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024 (seven editions) [S3].

4. Core Static Facts

Implementing body (India): DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry [S1].
Assessing body: World Bank Group (WBG) [S2].
B-READY 10 topics (firm life-cycle): Business Entry, Business Location, Utility Services, Labor, Financial Services, International Trade, Taxation, Dispute Resolution, Market Competition, Business Insolvency [S1][S2].
B-READY 3 pillars: (i) Regulatory Framework, (ii) Public Services, (iii) Operational Efficiency [S2].
Cross-cutting themes: digital adoption, environmental sustainability, gender [S2].
Data type: combines de jure (expert consultation) and de facto (expert + firm surveys) data [S2].
BRAP 2024 scope: 434 reform points; 5,83,365 businesses contacted, 1,33,776 interviews across 34 States/UTs; 25 reform areas [S3].
BRAP reform areas include Business Entry, Construction Permits, Labour, Land Administration, Environment, Utility Permits, Services [S3].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - Better B-READY scores → higher FDI inflows, formalisation of MSMEs, lower compliance cost [S1]. - BRAP feeds Make-in-India 2.0 and PLI ecosystem competitiveness [S3].

Administrative / Federalism - BRAP institutionalises competitive & cooperative federalism via State/UT rankings [S3]. - Methodology blends evidence + user feedback, expanding stakeholder consultation [S3].

Legal / Regulatory - Reform agenda touches Companies Act, IBC 2016 (insolvency), GST (taxation), Labour Codes (4 codes 2019-20), Jan Vishwas Act 2023 (decriminalisation) — all examinable linkages.

Governance / Ethical - DBR was discontinued over data manipulation allegations (2020-21); B-READY's tripartite methodology aims to restore credibility [S2]. - Cross-cutting gender & sustainability themes embed ESG into business climate measurement [S2].

Geopolitical - B-READY scores influence sovereign credit ratings and global value chain (GVC) relocation decisions ("China+1") [S2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

Oct 2024: B-READY Methodology Handbook, First Edition released by WBG [S2].
Dec 2025: Second Edition Methodology Handbook released [S2].
Jan 2026: Third Edition Methodology Handbook released [S2].
10 Feb 2026: DPIIT launched BRAP 2024 and announced India's B-READY 2026 participation [S1].
Economic Survey 2024-25: called for enhanced deregulation for MSMEs [S3].

7. Prelims Hooks

India's last DBR rank: 63 (in 2019), up 79 ranks in 5 years [S1].
DBR was discontinued in 2020; B-READY launched in 2024 [S1][S2].
B-READY covers 180+ economies in 3 annual cycles [S1].
India to be assessed in the Third B-READY Report (2026) [S1].
B-READY evaluates 10 topics across the firm life-cycle [S1][S2].
B-READY's 3 pillars: Regulatory Framework, Public Services, Operational Efficiency [S2].
Cross-cutting themes: digital tech, environment, gender [S2].
Nodal Indian agency: DPIIT (under Ministry of Commerce & Industry) [S1].
BRAP launched in 2014-15; 2024 edition is the 7th [S3].
BRAP 2024: 434 reform points, 25 reform areas, 34 States/UTs assessed [S3].
BRAP feedback survey covered >5.83 lakh businesses, ~1.34 lakh interviews [S3].
B-READY uses both de jure and de facto data [S2].

8. Mains Relevance

GS-III: Indian Economy — Growth, Investment, Industrial Policy, Mobilisation of Resources.
GS-II: Governance — government policies for development; e-Governance; Centre-State relations (BRAP & competitive federalism).
Possible question stems: 1. "Discuss how the World Bank's B-READY assessment differs from the erstwhile Doing Business Report and its implications for India's reform agenda." (GS-III) 2. "Business Reforms Action Plan exemplifies competitive federalism. Examine." (GS-II) 3. "Despite a 79-rank jump in EoDB rankings between 2014 and 2019, Indian MSMEs continue to face regulatory friction. Analyse." (GS-III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 — maps to B-READY's Business Insolvency topic.
Labour Codes (4) 2019-20 — Labor topic.
Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 — decriminalisation of minor offences.
National Single Window System (NSWS) — Business Entry facilitation.
PM GatiShakti & National Logistics Policy 2022 — trade & utility services.
GST Council & taxation reforms — Taxation pillar.
FDI Policy & PLI Schemes — outcome linkage.
Logistics Performance Index (LPI), GII, World Competitiveness Index — comparator indices.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

Wrong publisher: B-READY is by World Bank Group, not IMF/WEF/OECD.
Wrong rank year: India's 63rd rank was in DBR 2019 (data for 2018), not 2020.
DBR vs B-READY: DBR ranked ~190 economies on 10 indicators; B-READY covers 180+ on 10 topics across 3 pillars — different framework, not a rebrand.
Nodal ministry: DPIIT under Commerce & Industry, not MoF or NITI Aayog.
BRAP year confusion: BRAP 2022 results were the previous edition; the new edition is BRAP 2024 (announced Feb 2026), not "BRAP 2026".
Discontinuation reason: DBR was discontinued in 2020 due to data irregularities, not the pandemic.

11. Sources

[S1] India's Ease of Doing Business Performance Strengthened; World Bank B-READY Assessment Scheduled in 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2225808 — (tier: 1)
[S2] Business Ready (B-READY) Methodology Handbook, Editions 1–3 & Methodology page — https://www.worldbank.org/en/businessready/methodology — (tier: 2)
[S3] Business Reforms Action Plan 2024 / Ease of Doing Business: India's Ongoing Regulatory Transformation — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2060200 ; https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2223909 — (tier: 1)