Recent Parliamentry Committee Reports & its Recommendations

Areas Covered

Key Recommendations

Grievance redressal

Create a standardised, accessible and multilingual grievance system across intermediaries with unique complaint numbers, tracking, timelines and automatic escalation.

[under Rules 3(2) & 3A of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021].

OTT platforms

Examine the feasibility of establishing an independent Post Release Review Panel and strengthen technology-enabled age verification, parental controls and penalties for non-compliance.

Online advertisements

Introduce robust verification of offshore advertisers, including digital document verification, live identity authentication and continuous monitoring based on zero-trust principles.

Cyber financial fraud

Fully operationalise the Central Payment Fraud Information Registry as a comprehensive, real-time and interoperable fraud-data repository for banks and stakeholders.

CBI investigation

Develop a durable mechanism with States to facilitate CBI investigation of inter-State and transnational cybercrime; examine amendments to the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.

e-FIR

Establish a nationwide mechanism to automatically convert NCRP complaints into e-FIRs, with a time-bound roadmap through I4C.

Cyber education

Introduce a mandatory, age-appropriate cyber-safety curriculum from early grades to senior secondary level, along with teacher training and multilingual material.

Legal framework

Create a periodic, multidisciplinary mechanism to update cybercrime laws in response to emerging technologies and threats.

Comprehensive legislation

Develop unified cybercrime legislation with clear definitions, technology-neutral provisions and effective penalties for emerging offences.

Specialised task force

Establish an Integrated Cybercrime Task Force with nationwide jurisdiction, technical expertise and inter-agency coordination for complex/transnational cybercrime.

Areas Covered

Key Recommendations

India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC) 

Assess its performance, increase caseload, improve outreach, accessibility and operational efficiency, and undertake institutional reforms.

Arbitrator capacity 

Expand and diversify the arbitrator panel, including more international experts;

Update rules according to global best practices.

Delhi International Arbitration Centre (DIAC)     

Strengthen infrastructure, administrative workforce, finances and dedicated arbitration facilities.

Awareness of ADR

Increase awareness among businesses and legal professionals;

Integrate ADR into legal education and professional training.

India as arbitration hub

Position India as a dependable global arbitration hub through high institutional standards and stronger links with international arbitration centres.

Judicial intervention

Establish clearer limits on judicial intervention in arbitration to reduce unnecessary delays.

Technology

Adopt common digital standards, strengthen digital infrastructure, particularly in non-urban areas, and develop simpler online dispute-resolution platforms.

Mediation Act, 2023

Expedite establishment of the Mediation Council of India (MCI), notify remaining provisions and frame regulations within a defined timeline.

Pre-Institution Mediation

Make Pre-Institution Mediation mandatory and consider cost penalties where parties unreasonably refuse to participate or treat it merely as a formality.

ADR professionals

Create accreditation systems, standardised training, recognised qualifications and clear career pathways for ADR professionals.

Lok Adalats

Develop clear case-selection and settlement guidelines and improve tracking of settlement data to assess effectiveness.

NALSA

Strengthen manpower, fill vacancies on time and provide adequate budgetary support to improve access to justice and legal aid.

Areas Covered

Key Recommendations

Overall Tribunal System

Fill vacancies continuously; undertake periodic manpower assessment;

Strengthen infrastructure, registry and administrative support;

Improve case-management and accountability.

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT)

Fill vacancies of Members & Registry staff;

Analyse the recent rise in pendency;

Strengthen compliance with disposal timelines;

Upgrade hardware/software and conduct regular cyber-security audits.

Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT)

Fill vacancies before they arise; undertake region-wise pendency analysis;

Strengthen hybrid hearings and e-filing;

Introduce real-time case tracking and virtual hearings.

RCT (Access to Justice)

Consider a “Zero FIR”-type universal filing mechanism, allowing claims to be filed at any location and transferred to the appropriate Bench.

eRCT Project (Technology & AI)

Create digital links with Indian Railways for verification;

Use AI for scheduling, cause lists, notifications and assistance in generating orders.

Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT)

Review and increase sanctioned strength; add technical experts;

Prepare a time-bound plan to reduce pendency;

Strengthen digital adjudication and e-filing.

Telecom Disputes

Examine creation of an independent Telecom Ombudsman and a multi-tier grievance-redressal framework.

National Green Tribunal (NGT)

Expedite appointment of Judicial and Expert Members;

Reduce dependence on contractual staff;

Fill vacancies across Benches;

Track cases pending for more than three years.

Digital governance (NGT) 

Establish dedicated Computer/IT Sections;

Strengthen e-filing and virtual hearings;

Create public dashboards showing Bench-wise disposal and pendency.

Enforcement (NGT) 

Strengthen mechanisms to ensure compliance with NGT orders through action-taken reports, joint committees and clear fixing of responsibility.

National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) 

Reduce dependence on contractual/deputation staff;

Fill Judicial and Technical Member vacancies;

Review recruitment rules and periodically assess the need for additional Benches.

NCLT & Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)

Improve adherence to IBC timelines;

Prioritise long-pending insolvency cases;

Consider dedicated IBC Benches/verticals within NCLT.

NCLT 2.0

Strengthen digital infrastructure, provide predictable funding, establish disaster-recovery mechanisms and deploy dedicated technical manpower.

Areas Covered

Key Recommendations

Climate–fire link 

Commission a dedicated region-specific study to establish the empirical relationship between climate change and the frequency, intensity and seasonality of Himalayan forest fires.

Fire prediction 

Develop predictive fire-risk models using long-term temperature, rainfall, dry-spell and historical fire data.

Satellite monitoring 

Move towards round-the-clock satellite monitoring, including consideration of a dedicated geostationary satellite.

Pine needles / Pirul 

Formulate a National Pine-Needle Utilisation Policy & institutionalise pre-fire-season collection of dry pine needles.

Livelihoods

Convert pine-needle removal into an economic opportunity through procurement, processing, value addition and rural employment.

Region-specific strategy

Avoid a one-size-fits-all approach; fire drivers differ between the Western and Eastern Himalayas.

Community participation

Strengthen participation of local communities in prevention, detection and first response.

Casualty data 

Establish a centralised database on forest-fire casualties and compensation.

Invasive species 

Undertake scientific studies and management plans for invasive tree species in Himalayan states.

Forest diversion

Strengthen scrutiny of diversion proposals, particularly in ecologically valuable Oak, Deodar and mixed-conifer forests.

Response capacity 

Improve trained manpower, firefighting equipment, communication and coordination among forest and disaster-management agencies (presently only two battalions of NDRF are deployed for forest fires, one each in the Western and Eastern Himalayan regions).

Post-fire restoration

Give greater emphasis to ecological restoration and recovery of fire-affected landscapes.

Areas Covered

Key Recommendations

Reducing Compliance Burden

Over 47,000 compliances have been reduced, simplified, digitised or decriminalised.

The Committee recommended third-party evaluation and stronger real-time monitoring through the Regulatory Compliance Portal.

Inspections

Replace multiple/overlapping inspections with automated Joint Site Inspections;

Use third-party certification and self-certification for low-risk sectors.

State & Local Reforms 

Expand the District Business Reform Action Plan (D-BRAP) and integrate approvals, renewals and IBC-related filings with the National Single Window System (NSWS).

Approvals & Licences

Introduce time-bound approvals and deemed approval when prescribed Service Level Agreements expire.

Automatic Renewals 

Allow automatic renewal for businesses with a clean compliance record;

Make all remaining Ministries/States/UTs onboard NSWS within a defined timeline.

Tax & Working Capital

Rationalise fragmented TDS parameters and explore allowing GST liabilities under Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) through the Electronic Credit Ledger;

Facilitate transfer of unused ITC between GSTINs under the same PAN.

Risk-based Regulation 

Increase self-certification, third-party certification and risk-based regulation, while retaining safety, environmental and labour safeguards.

Mutual Recognition 

Establish Mutual Recognition Agreements between State inspectorates so certificates issued in one State are recognised nationwide.

Digital Governance 

Expand single-window digital clearance systems and move towards faceless, time-bound delivery of regulatory services.

Decriminalisation 

Ensure decriminalisation reforms produce tangible results and prevent future reintroduction of criminal penalties through departmental rules (Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026).

B-READY 

Align reforms with the World Bank's Business Ready (B-READY) framework and consider a B-READY Reform Dashboard for real-time monitoring.

Entrepreneurship 

Create a dedicated Support Cell for first-generation entrepreneurs, giving them access to the same fast-tracking and digital services available to large investors.

Contract Enforcement 

Establish fully digitised Commercial Courts in major industrial clusters with prescribed timelines for dispute resolution.

Logistics 

Simplify customs/tax compliance, eliminate duplicate documentation and integrate Customs, ports, airports and railways through unified digital systems.

ULIP 

Mandate integration of public and private logistics operators with the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) through open APIs.

E-commerce & Quick Commerce 

Strengthen regulation against dark patterns, misleading advertisements and predatory dynamic pricing; improve digital grievance redressal and ODR mechanisms.

Traditional/GI sectors

Support sectors such as Pashmina, saffron, handicrafts, horticulture and Kashmir willow bats through testing, branding, quality control and technology.

Ladakh 

Provide targeted financial, procurement and policy support to local enterprises and facilitate renewable-energy and infrastructure development.

Capacity Building 

Regularly train municipal officials, inspectors and regulators on reformed procedures and digital systems, backed by independent third-party impact assessment.

Areas Covered

Key Recommendations

All India Passenger Permit

Replace the All-India Tourist Permit with an All-India Passenger Permit within one year;

Integrate VAHAN, FASTag and vehicle-location data for electronic enforcement.

National Bus Terminals Authority 

Create a dedicated authority for bus terminals, separate terminal ownership from bus operations on the Airports Authority model, and establish a National Code for Bus Terminals within one year.

National Bus Digital Grid 

Create interoperable digital standards for live bus tracking aligned with Indian Railways specifications, unified booking, passenger ratings, citizen reporting (cVIGIL-pattern) and GIS-based network mapping.

Operator-centric safety

Complete district-wise Automated Testing Stations, verify fire/egress/alert systems during fitness tests and introduce operator safety ratings linked to permit renewal.

Fleet Transition Compact

Develop a Fleet Transition Compact, promote electric buses through bulk procurement, provide charging infrastructure according to operational needs and create an end-of-life framework for EVs and batteries.

Services for women, run by women 

Introduce dedicated peak-hour services operated by women drivers and staff, expand CCTV and emergency-alert systems, and improve sanitation and onboard toilet facilities standardisation under the Bus Body Code.

National Tourist Bus Grid

Integrated tourist circuits interconnecting bus, rail, metro, air and waterways through unified ticketing and develop intermodal tourist hubs.

Dedicated Public Transport Funding 

Give public transport infrastructure a defined place in the Ministry's budget;

Consider allocating a proportion of around 25% of road allocation to public transport;

Viability gap funding for conforming terminals and testing stations.

State-wise Ranking 

Publish an annual State ranking on bus-transport facilitation, based on safety, terminal access, punctuality, emergency systems and passenger feedback.

Count the passengers 

Reconcile national bus-fleet data, create a federated national data architecture, and periodically publish authoritative estimates of passengers carried by bus.

Areas Covered

Key Recommendations

India’s Arctic strategy 

India is an Observer State of the Arctic Council; the Committee recommended that the government seek full-fledged membership of the Council whenever there is a review of the Council.

Asian Cooperation

Other Asian countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and the UAE have stronger ties with Arctic states as compared to India. 

It is recommended to deepen bilateral ties with other members and observers;

Explore a quadrilateral agreement between India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea;

Engage with Arctic ethnic groups and locals. 

Instituting a Polar Ambassador 

Appoint a dedicated Polar Ambassador or establish a specialised Arctic/Polar Affairs mechanism in lines of countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea.

Management of global commons 

India should pursue recognition of the Arctic as a "Quasi-Global Commons" like Antarctica. Currently, the Arctic is under the sovereign control of eight territorial states, not treated as ‘global commons’.

Development of northern sea route (NSR) 

Expedite the India–Russia feasibility study for developing the NSR, which could provide an alternative to the Suez route and reduce shipping time.

Krill & Marine Resources

India will participate in krill fishing after evaluating its environmental risks;

Pursue the creation of Marine Protected Areas in East Antarctica and the Weddell Sea.

Exploitation of marine resources

Make access to critical mineral resources in the Arctic an important component of India's dialogue with Arctic states.

Barriers to research

Recommended increasing the outlay for the ongoing polar research scheme by 30%, and creating additional permanent posts at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research. 

Address restrictions imposed on research activities at Himadri Station, Svalbard through direct diplomatic engagement with Norway.

Research infrastructure 

Expediting the manufacturing of a dedicated India’s own polar research vessel, with ice-breaking capacity;

Expediting the completion of the Maitri-II station in Antarctica, as the current Maitri station has exceeded its intended 10-year lifespan.