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 [2][1].
• India, which ranked 63rd in the last DBR (2019), will be evaluated in the Third B-READY Report scheduled for 2026 [1].
• 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) [1][3].
• 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 [1].
• World Bank released the B-READY Methodology Handbook, Third Edition (January 2026) ahead of India's inclusion [2].
• Successive 2025-26 reform pushes — deregulation focus in Economic Survey 2024-25 for MSMEs — anchor the political momentum [3].

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 [3].
• 2019 (DBR): India ranked 63rd, an improvement of 79 ranks in 5 years (from 142nd in 2014) [1].
• 2020: DBR discontinued after data-irregularities controversy [1].
• 2024: World Bank launched B-READY — first edition methodology handbook released Oct 2024 [2].
• 2026: India to be assessed under Third B-READY Report [1].
• BRAP editions completed: 2015, 2016, 2017-18, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024 (seven editions) [3].

4. Core Static Facts

• Implementing body (India): DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry [1].
• Assessing body: World Bank Group (WBG) [2].
• 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 [1][2].
• B-READY 3 pillars: (i) Regulatory Framework, (ii) Public Services, (iii) Operational Efficiency [2].
• Cross-cutting themes: digital adoption, environmental sustainability, gender [2].
• Data type: combines de jure (expert consultation) and de facto (expert + firm surveys) data [2].
• BRAP 2024 scope: 434 reform points; 5,83,365 businesses contacted, 1,33,776 interviews across 34 States/UTs; 25 reform areas [3].
• BRAP reform areas include Business Entry, Construction Permits, Labour, Land Administration, Environment, Utility Permits, Services [3].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic

• Better B-READY scores → higher FDI inflows, formalisation of MSMEs, lower compliance cost [1].
• BRAP feeds Make-in-India 2.0 and PLI ecosystem competitiveness [3].

Administrative / Federalism

• BRAP institutionalises competitive & cooperative federalism via State/UT rankings [3].
• Methodology blends evidence + user feedback, expanding stakeholder consultation [3].

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 [2].
• Cross-cutting gender & sustainability themes embed ESG into business climate measurement [2].

Geopolitical

• B-READY scores influence sovereign credit ratings and global value chain (GVC) relocation decisions ("China+1") [2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• Oct 2024: B-READY Methodology Handbook, First Edition released by WBG [2].
• Dec 2025: Second Edition Methodology Handbook released [2].
• Jan 2026: Third Edition Methodology Handbook released [2].
• 10 Feb 2026: DPIIT launched BRAP 2024 and announced India's B-READY 2026 participation [1].
• Economic Survey 2024-25: called for enhanced deregulation for MSMEs [3].

7. Prelims Hooks

• India's last DBR rank: 63 (in 2019), up 79 ranks in 5 years [1].
• DBR was discontinued in 2020; B-READY launched in 2024 [1][2].
• B-READY covers 180+ economies in 3 annual cycles [1].
• India to be assessed in the Third B-READY Report (2026) [1].
• B-READY evaluates 10 topics across the firm life-cycle [1][2].
• B-READY's 3 pillars: Regulatory Framework, Public Services, Operational Efficiency [2].
• Cross-cutting themes: digital tech, environment, gender [2].
• Nodal Indian agency: DPIIT (under Ministry of Commerce & Industry) [1].
• BRAP launched in 2014-15; 2024 edition is the 7th [3].
• BRAP 2024: 434 reform points, 25 reform areas, 34 States/UTs assessed [3].
• BRAP feedback survey covered >5.83 lakh businesses, ~1.34 lakh interviews [3].
• B-READY uses both de jure and de facto data [2].

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.