The Ultimate Guide to
Ease of Doing Business
From the World Bank’s 2026 B-READY framework to India’s domestic BRAP rankings. Learn how regulatory environments dictate the speed at which you can scale.
Curated by the EaseOfBiz Legal & Compliance Team
India Assessment
World Bank B-READY
Compliances
Reduced in India
Data Points
In the New Framework
India’s Last Rank
Under the old DB Index
The Rise and Fall of the Doing Business Index
Originally conceived by the World Bank Group in 2003, the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) index was a revolutionary macroeconomic metric. It measured the exact bureaucratic red tape an entrepreneur faced—quantifying the depth of legal protections, the efficiency of public services, and the speed of court processes.
Over 18 years, the project catalyzed nearly 5,000 regulatory reforms globally as countries fiercely competed to improve their rankings to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
The 2021 Controversy & Reset
In September 2021, the World Bank officially discontinued the legacy report. An independent investigation revealed systemic data irregularities and ethical breaches in the 2018 and 2020 reports, artificially inflating the scores of specific nations due to political pressure.
Rather than continue with a compromised system, the World Bank spent three years developing a bulletproof, highly transparent successor: The B-READY Framework.
The B-READY 2026 Test
The new global standard is the Business Ready (B-READY) project. India is officially scheduled to be assessed under this framework in 2026.
The Three Pillars of B-READY:
- Pillar 1: Regulatory Framework. Evaluates the quality and clarity of statutory laws on paper.
- Pillar 2: Public Services. Measures if governments actually deliver the digital infrastructure and services they promised.
- Pillar 3: Operational Efficiency. The ultimate reality check—measuring real-world friction, corruption, and actual time taken by firms to execute tasks.
The 2026 assessment will test whether India’s regulatory reset has successfully moved from mere reform announcements to actual institutional outcomes.
India’s Business Climate: EoDB 2.0
India is the 4th largest economy in the world. To compete globally, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is executing a massive structural shift away from punitive oversight.
The Compliance Clean-up & Jan Vishwas
The Indian government has recognized that “fear of the inspector” stunts growth. Key reforms include:
- The Jan Vishwas Act: A landmark legislation that decriminalized over 3,400 minor corporate offenses across 42 Central Acts, converting jail terms into simple monetary penalties.
- Red Tape Reduction: Over 39,000 redundant compliances have been eliminated or simplified across states.
- NSWS Integration: The National Single Window System now unites 32 Central Ministries and thousands of state approvals into one digital dashboard.
State Rankings: The BRAP Index
In India, states compete domestically via the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP). States are categorized into Top Achievers, Achievers, Aspirers, and Emerging Ecosystems.
- Top Achievers: Andhra Pradesh consistently secures the #1 spot due to rapid land-bank digitization and single-desk portals, alongside powerhouses like Gujarat, Telangana, and Haryana.
- Tech & Infrastructure: States like Karnataka and Maharashtra continue to lead in FDI due to robust IT infrastructure and deep capital markets, despite complex local regulations.
Making EoDB a Reality: The EaseOfBiz Model
While governments focus on macroeconomic policies, we focus on the grassroots. Our mission is to eliminate bureaucratic friction for Indian founders.
1. The Knowledge Hub (Do-It-Yourself)
We believe knowledge should be free. EaseOfBiz provides exhaustive, step-by-step digital guides for every compliance required in India.
- Learn the Portals: We teach you exactly how to navigate the GST Portal, MCA21, and Udyam Registration yourself.
- No More Jargon: We break down complex legal requirements into simple, actionable checklists.
- Absolute Empowerment: Manage your own regulatory footprint without relying on expensive CAs or middlemen for basic tasks.
2. Done-For-You Services
Your time is your most valuable asset. If you prefer not to handle the red tape, our experts execute the procedures for you.
- What We Handle: Private Limited Company Registration, GST Registration & Filing, Trademark Applications, and Annual RoC Filings.
- Minimal, Transparent Cost: Flat fees with no hidden charges.
- Zero Friction: You focus on building your product and acquiring customers. We handle the backend compliance with speed and precision.
B-READY Score Simulator
Adjust the regulatory pillars below to see how a country’s overall Business Readiness score is calculated.
Overall Readiness
Calculated Average of Pillars
The 10 Core B-READY Topics
These parameters map the entire lifecycle of a firm, pinpointing exactly where regulatory friction occurs.
1. Business Entry
Time, cost, and minimum capital to launch a company digitally.
2. Business Location
Environmental permits, zoning, and property registration efficiency.
3. Utility Services
Speed, cost, and reliability of obtaining electricity, water, and internet.
4. Labor
Flexibility of employment regulations, hiring/firing laws, and worker protection.
5. Financial Services
Access to credit, banking infrastructure, and secured transactions laws.
6. International Trade
Logistical time and cost to export/import goods via customs checkpoints.
7. Taxation
Compliance burden, online filing ease, and transparency of tax codes.
8. Dispute Resolution
Efficiency of specialized commercial courts and contract enforcement speed.
9. Market Competition
Anti-monopoly regulations, fair trade laws, and intellectual property protection.
10. Business Insolvency
Speed and outcome of corporate restructuring, bankruptcy, and liquidation.
Exhaustive FAQ
Everything you need to know about navigating the business climate in 2026.
It is a macroeconomic metric evaluating how frictionless a regulatory environment is for starting, operating, and scaling an enterprise. A favorable environment means simpler regulations, faster digital compliances, and stronger protections for property rights.
In 2021, the World Bank discontinued the legacy index following an independent investigation that revealed data irregularities and ethical breaches in the 2018-2020 reports. It has since been replaced by the more transparent, data-driven B-READY framework.
India is officially scheduled to be evaluated under the World Bank’s B-READY framework in 2026. This pivotal assessment will test the real-world impact of India’s recent reforms, including the reduction of thousands of compliances and the integration of the National Single Window System (NSWS).
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act is a landmark Indian reform aimed at decriminalizing minor corporate and procedural offenses. By converting jail terms into civil monetary penalties across 42 Central Acts, it aims to remove the “fear of the inspector” for business owners.
Under the DPIIT’s Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP), Andhra Pradesh consistently secures the top spot as a “Top Achiever,” heavily utilizing digital single-window clearances, alongside progressive states like Gujarat, Telangana, and Haryana.
Budget 2026 shifted aggressively toward a trust-based tax administration, reducing compliance complexity. It introduced the Biopharma SHAKTI scheme, expanded the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, and allocated ₹12.2 lakh crore to capital expenditure to crowd-in private investment.
“Ease of biz” is the digital shorthand for “Ease of Doing Business.” It represents the removal of red tape and technical barriers. It is also the core operating philosophy behind the EaseOfBiz.com platform—providing zero-friction digital infrastructure to launch and host a company.
EaseOfBiz empowers entrepreneurs through a dual model: We provide free, exhaustive DIY digital guides to educate you on handling online corporate procedures yourself. If you prefer not to handle the red tape, our experts provide “Done-For-You” compliance and registration services at a minimal, transparent cost so you can focus on scaling.
The NSWS is a digital gateway established by the Indian government that integrates approvals from 32 Central Ministries and 33 States/UTs. It allows businesses to apply for, pay, and track over 3,000 state and central clearances from a single unified dashboard, dramatically reducing bureaucratic running around.
Starting a zero-capital business is highly viable in today’s digital economy. Focus on service-based models (consulting, freelance), digital products, drop-shipping, or leveraging digital platforms by joining the EaseOfBiz Creator Ecosystem to bypass traditional physical infrastructure and inventory costs.