Punjab Launches "Punjab Udyog Kranti - Unoschool Current Affairs

A comprehensive drive led by the AAP government in Punjab to turbocharge industrial development, streamline approvals, and attract investments
Central to this is the FastTrack Punjab Portal, part of the initiative, to enforce time-bound clearances and reduce red‑tapism.

Single-Window Fast Track Portal
- Facilitates approvals for land-use change, pollution, fire safety, etc., through Invest Punjab.
- Timeline: Standard clearances within 45 days, deemed approved if delayed; CLU and fire NOCs in 15 days.
Deemed Approval Mechanism
- If departments miss the deadline, approvals are automatically granted, binding as official decisions .
Right to Business Act Expansion
- Covers projects up to ₹125 crore with 3–15 day in-principle approvals.
- ₹150 crore in incentives disbursed since April, targeting ₹250 crore by end‑June
One-Time Settlement (OTS) & Financial Relief
- OTS scheme waives penalties for industrial plot dues, facilitating smoother business reentry
- ₹250 crore allocated to support infrastructure and implementation through Invest Punjab
Attracting Massive Investment
- Over ₹1 lakh crore proposals since 2022, promising ~4 lakh jobs

UPSC Relevance

Ease of Doing Business: Single-window system enhances transparency; deemed approvals enforce accountability.
Right to Business Act: Decentralising decision-making and transforming business rights.
Federal Innovation: State-led policy experimentation balancing regulation and investor facilitation.

Industrial Growth & MSMEs: Focus on rapid approvals, incentives, and job creation.
Fiscal Measures: OTS as a financial tool to revive stalled investments; state support strengthens industrial ecology.

Employment & Social Well-being: Projected ~4 lakh jobs can curb youth unemployment and reduce agrarian distress.
Education & Skill Linkages: Complementary initiatives like “Sikhiya Kranti” (₹2,000 crore education upgrade) show holistic development

Q. Critically assess the effectiveness of Punjab’s “Udyog Kranti” reforms in promoting industrialization and job creation.

Structure:

Introduction – Define Udyog Kranti and its key arms (portal, legislations, schemes).
Body:
- Fast-track portal: efficiency, accountability.
- Policy support: financial incentives, OTS, Right to Business.
- Investment impact: proposal inflows, job potential.
- Holistic state development links (education, infrastructure).
Challenges:
- Bureaucratic inertia despite timelines.
- Financial sustainability of incentives.
- Ensuring real job outcomes beyond promises.
Recommendations:
- Strengthen monitoring and grievance redressal.
- Align with skill development and local industries.
- Public‑private partnerships for infrastructure.
Conclusion – Highlight potential & replicability, with caution for implementation.