Puducherry Ease of Doing Business (Service Delivery) Act, 2025

1. (1) This Act may be called the “Puducherry Ease of Doing Business [Service Delivery] Act, 2025”.
2. (2) It shall extend to the whole of the Union territory of Puducherry.
3. (3) It shall come into force at once.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

1. (a) “Appellate Authority” means, the authority referred to under section 9;
2. (b) “Applicant” means, a person duly authorized by an enterprise to file an application on behalf of the enterprise through online or in person and the word “Application” shall be construed accordingly;
3. (c) “Checklist” means, list of documents / evidences to be furnished by the applicant along with the Application Form as may be prescribed;
4. (d) “Clearances” means, grant or issue of no-objection certificates, allotments, consents, approvals, permissions, registrations, enrolments, licences and the like ones, by any Competent Authority or Authorities in connection with the setting up of an enterprise or expansion of an existing enterprise in the Union territory of Puducherry and shall include all such approvals essentially required, till the enterprise starts commercial production and includes periodic renewals that may inevitably be required for such clearances;
5. (e) “Competent Authority” means, Head of any Department or Agency of the Government, Corporation, Board, Local Body or other Authority established by the Government, which are entrusted with the powers or responsibilities to grant or issue of clearances or incentives;
6. (f) “Deemed Approval” means, the approval as specified under section 6;
7. (g) “Department” means, a Department of the Government of Puducherry;
8. (h) “Designated Officer” means, an Officer identified by a Competent Authority for processing of clearances;
   • (i) “Enterprise” means, an undertaking that intends to engage in or is engaged in any or all of the activities, namely, manufacturing, processing, providing services or engaging in business/trade;
9. (j) “Government” means, the Administrator appointed by the President under Article 239 of the Constitution;
10. (k) “Nodal Agency” means, the agency referred to in section 10;
11. (l) “Notification” means, a notification published in the Official Gazette of Government of Puducherry and the word “Notified” shall be construed accordingly;
12. (m) “Prescribed” means, prescribed by the rules made under this Act;
13. (n) “Schedule” means, the Schedule appended to this Act.
14. (o) “Service” means, services, including functions, obligations, responsibility or duty, to be provided or rendered by a Public-Authority for issue of clearance;
15. (p) “Stipulated time” means, the maximum time excluding public holidays to provide the applied / requested service by the Public Authority;
16. (q) “Subordinate Public Servant” means, an officer subordinate to the Designated

Notification of Designated Officers, procedure and checklist for processing of applications

1. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, the Competent Authority, within a period of three months from the date of commencement of this Act, with the approval of Government, shall notify the Checklist and the procedure for processing and disposal of applications and Designate Officer / Officers for providing services under this Act.
2. (2) The Checklist and the Procedure shall be made available on the website of the

Application for Clearance

1. (1) An applicant shall apply through online for clearance in the prescribed form with necessary particulars and supporting documents as prescribed in the checklist: Provided that the Government may allow submission of physical application during transitional period, till such time, as it may notify.
2. (2) Every application received, shall be given a number by the Designated Officer or by the online system to enable the applicant to monitor the status of the application in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.
3. (3) If, the application is submitted to an Authority other than the Competent Authority or Designated Officer or Subordinate Public Servant for clearance, then the Officer who received the application shall forward it to the concerned Designated Officer within 3 days on receipt of the application and for such application 5 days additional time shall be added to the stipulated time.

1. (1) The Designated Officer as notified under section 3 of this Act shall, on receipt of the application, consider and dispose it by passing an order either approving or rejecting the same within the stipulated time, as mentioned in the Schedule.
2. (2) The Designated Officer or Subordinate Public Servant shall have the powers to seek additional information or clarification, if required, from the applicant: Provided that the additional information or clarification shall be sought for only once before the expiry of the stipulated time prescribed in the Schedule.
3. (3) The stipulated time shall, start from the date of application excluding the days during which additional information or clarification is sought and received.
4. (4) The Designated Officer shall give reasons in the order, in case, the application is rejected.
5. (5) The signed final order of approval or rejection shall be made available online to the applicant in downloadable format.

1. (1) In case of failure to issue the required approval within the time-limit specified in the Schedule, such approvals shall be deemed to have been issued and the entrepreneurs may proceed with the implementation of the project without contravening any of the provisions of the Act, rules, bye-laws, notifications, standing orders, executive instructions, guidelines and regulations made by the Competent Authority concerned for such clearances: Provided if any deviations by the applicant with respect to the provisions of the relevant Statutes are detected, the Competent Authority shall take action as deemed fit against the applicant under the concerned Statutes.
2. (2) The deemed approval shall be made as an automatic process in the online system and made available to the applicant in downloadable format.

1. (1) Any applicant aggrieved by a decision of the Designated Officer within thirty days from the receipt of such decision, may prefer an appeal to the Competent Authority: Provided that the Competent Authority may admit the appeal after the expiry of the period of thirty days, if, it is satisfied that the Appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.
2. (2) In its decision, the Competent Authority shall have the power to:-
   • (a) Reject the appeal.
   • (b) Give any suitable directions to the Designated Officer.
   • (c) Impose any of the penalties provided under this Act;

1. (1) The Competent Authority at the time of deciding any appeal is of the opinion that the Designated Officer or Subordinate Public Servant, as the case may be, who has, without any reasonable cause, failed to deliver the service to an applicant within the stipulated time under section 5 or causes in issue of deemed approval under section 6, it shall impose a penalty of two hundred and fifty rupees each day till service is delivered: Provided that the total amount of said penalty shall not exceed twenty-five thousand rupees. Provided further that the penalty amount shall be increased by 10% after every three years from the commencement of this Act. Provided also that no penalty shall be imposed on the Designated Officer or Subordinate Public Servant, as the case may be, before giving him a reasonable opportunity of being heard by way of a written notice, returnable within 15 working days. Provided also that the burden of proof for acting reasonably and diligently, shall be on the Designated Officer or Subordinate Public Servant, as the case may be.
2. (2) The Designated Officer or Subordinate Public Servant, as the case may be, who is aggrieved by the order passed by the Competent Authority in accordance with section 8
3. (1) shall be entitled to file an appeal to the Appellate Authority against such order within a period not exceeding thirty days of the receipt of the impugned order.
4. (3) For the purpose of this Act, the appeal against the order of the Appellate

Appellate Authority

1. (1) For the purpose of this Act, the Government shall appoint an Appellate Authority to decide on the penalty against any Designated Officer or Subordinate Public Servant who fails to deliver the services within the stipulated time or causes in issue of deemed clearance, as the case may be.
2. (2) The Appellate Authority shall comprise of the following Members:-

The Directorate of Industries and Commerce shall act as the Nodal Agency to facilitate the delivery of clearances that are required for setting up of new enterprises or expansion or renewal of existing enterprises.

The Nodal Agency under the superintendence, direction and control of the Government, shall be responsible in discharging the following functions, namely:-

1. (a) act as a single point of contact for all enterprises that require clearances and as notified by the Government under section 3;
2. (b) assist the applicants in filing of applications online;
3. (c) arrange for pre-scrutiny of applications by convening meetings with representatives of Competent Authorities and address queries of investors;
4. (d) receive applications for clearances through single window portal;
5. (e) review and monitor the processing of applications by the Competent Authorities;
6. (f) compile the number of applications processed outside the stipulated time and deemed approvals generated every quarter and place before the Appellate Authority;
7. (g) act as Investor Facilitation Center for investment proposal, industrial facilitation, regulatory reforms and obtaining user feedback, queries and grievance handling.

1. (1) The Government may, by notification, specify the clearances for which inspections under the provisions of the applicable Acts, rules, orders or instructions shall be conducted by the Competent Authorities in accordance with such guidelines as may be prescribed.
2. (2) The Government may, from time to time, by notification, specify the clearances for which exemption is granted from inspection and may also delegate the powers of inspection to any person or authority in respect of any specific clearance covered under this Act.

1. (1) The defaults on the part of an Officer in the time bound delivery of services as defined in this Act shall not be counted towards misconduct, as the purpose and object is to sensitize the public servant towards the citizen and to enhance and imbibe a culture to deliver time bound services to the citizens.
2. (2) In case of any Officer who is a habitual and wilful defaulter, without any reasonable cause and persistently failed to receive an application or has failed to provide service within the stipulated time or intentionally denied the request for the service or delayed inordinately, appropriate disciplinary action shall be taken against the Officer under the relevant rules applicable to him.
3. (3) To encourage and recognize superior performance of Designated Officers having ad hered to the stipulated timeline without default, a suitable entry shall be made in the Annual Performance Report by the Reporting Officer concerned.

The provisions of this Act shall be supplemented to the disciplinary and financial rules and such other service rules and regulations as applicable, to the employees of the Government or Local Authority or Public Authority concerned, as the case may be, and not in derogation to such service rules and regulations governing the service condition and conduct of the Government Employees or the employees of the other Public Authorities concerned.

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against any person for anything which is done in good faith or intended to be done under this Act or any rule made thereunder.

No Civil Court shall have jurisdiction in respect of any matter which the Competent

Power to make rules

1. (1) The Government may, after previous publication, by notification, in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.
2. (2) Every rule made or notification issued under this Act, shall as soon as may be after it is made be laid before the Legislative Assembly, Puducherry, while it is in session for a total period of fourteen days, which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid, or the session immediately following, the Legislative Assembly makes any modification in the rule or notification or decide that any rule or notification should not be made or issued, the rule or notification shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule or notification.

1. (1) The Government may by notification alter, add to or cancel the Schedule.
2. (2) All references made in the Act to the Schedule shall be construed as relating to that Schedule as in the time being amended in exercise of the powers conferred by this section.

1. (1) If any difficulty arises, in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Government may by order publish in the Official Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as may appear to it, be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty: Provided that no such order shall be made under this section after the expiry of a period of two years from the date of commencement of this Act.
2. (2) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as it is made, be placed on the table of Legislative Assembly, Puducherry.

The Government may, by notification, exempt any clearances from any of its provisions subject to such conditions as they deem fit and may cancel or modify any such notification, in this Act.

Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force or any custom or usage or any instrument having effect by virtue of any such law.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Act, it shall not apply to any other Authority, Department, Government other than Government of Puducherry.

List of Services, Competent Authority, Stipulated Time for Disposal of Application Sl. No. Service Competent Authority Stipulated Time for Disposal* (1) (2) (3) (4) Department of Science, Technology and Environment 1. Consent to Establish / Operate under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 - Green Category. Member-Secretary, Puducherry Pollution Control Committee. 15 days from the date of receipt of application. 2. Consent to Establish / Operate under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 - Green Category. Member-Secretary, Puducherry Pollution Control Committee. 15 days from the date of receipt of application. 3. Consent to Establish / Operate under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 - Orange /Red Category. Member-Secretary, Puducherry Pollution Control Committee. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 4. Consent to Establish / Operate under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 - Orange / Red Category. Member-Secretary, Puducherry Pollution Control Committee. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 5. Authorization under the Hazardous and other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 as amended time to time. Member-Secretary, Puducherry Pollution Control Committee. 30 days from the date of receipt of application complete in all respects. 6. E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. Member-Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board. 30 days from the date of receipt of application complete in all respect or as per Guidelines / SOP issued under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 by the Central Pollution Control Board [CPCB] as amended, whichever is earlier. 7. Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 as amended. Member-Secretary, Puducherry Pollution Control Committee. 30 days from the date of receipt of application or as per Guidelines / SOP issued under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as amended whichever is earlier. Labour Department 8. Approval of plan and permission to construct / extend / or take into use any building as a factory under the Factories Act, 1948. Chief Inspector of Factories and Boilers. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 9. Registration of Factories under the Factories Act, 1948 / Licence. Chief Inspector of Factories and Boilers. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 10. Registration of Boilers under the Boilers Act, 1923. Chief Inspector of Factories and Boilers. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 11. Registration of Boilers Manufacturers under the Boilers Act, 1923. Chief Inspector of Factories and Boilers. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 12. Licence for contractors under provision of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970. Labour Commissioner, Labour Department. 21 days from the date of receipt of application. 13. Registration under the Puducherry Shops and Establishments Act, 1964 (including 365 days Licence). Labour Commissioner, Labour Department. 7 days from the date of receipt of application. 14. Registration of Principal Employer’s Establishment under provision of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970. Labour Commissioner, Labour Department. 7 days from the date of receipt of application. 15. Registration under the Building and other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996. Labour Commissioner, Labour Department. 7 days from the date of receipt of application. 16. Registration of Establishment under the Inter State Migrant Workmen (RE & CS) Act, 1979. Labour Commissioner, Labour Department. 7 days from the date of receipt of application. PIPDIC 17. Allotment of Land in Industrial Estates / Parks. Managing Director - PIPDIC. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. Town and Country Planning Department 18. Change in Land Use Chief Town Planner, TCP. 71 days from the date of receipt of application. 19. Certificate of Land Use Chief Town Planner, TCP. 45 days from the approval and final Notification of the Government. Planning Authority 20. Building Plan Approval Member-Secretary, Planning Authority. 15 days from the date of receipt of application. 21. Plinth Level Inspection Member-Secretary, Planning Authority. 5 days from the date of intimation. 22. Completion / Occupancy Certificate. Member-Secretary, Planning Authority. 7 days from the date of receipt of application. Public Works Department 23. Water Connection Chief Engineer, Public Works Department. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 24. Registration of Contractors for Works and Service. Chief Engineer, Public Works Department. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 25. Sewer Connection Chief Engineer, Public Works Department. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 26. Certificate of non-availability of Water. Chief Engineer, Public Works Department. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. Electricity Department 27. Obtaining Electricity Connection - HT. Superintending Engineer, Electricity Department. As per the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, as amended from time to time. 28. Obtaining Electricity Connection - LT. Superintending Engineer, Electricity Department. As per the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, as amended from time to time. 29. Approval for DG set Installation. Superintending Engineer, Electricity Department. As per the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, as amended from time to time subject to condition that to switch over to cleaner technologies by 2025 as insisted in sub-rule (6) of rule 10 of the above Rules. Local Bodies 30. Issue of Permission to establish industry / service / business. Commissioner, Local Body. 7 days from the date of receipt of clearances. 31. Registration for Trade Licence / Licence. Commissioner, Local Body. 10 days from the date of receipt of application. 32. Registration under Professional Tax Commissioner, Local Body. 10 days from the date of receipt of application. 33. Sanction for Storage of Construction material Commissioner, Local Body. 7 days from the date of receipt of application. 34. Movie shooting Permission Commissioner, Local Body. 7 days from the date of receipt of application. 35. Registration of Hotels Commissioner, Local Body. 10 days from the date of receipt of application. 36. Water Connection Commissioner, Local Body. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 37. Road Cutting Permission Commissioner, Local Body. 7 days from the date of receipt of application. 38. Inspection carried out for Road cutting permission and Verification to ensure proper restoration. Commissioner, Local Body. 7 days from the date of receipt of application. 39. Signage Licence for Advertisement. Commissioner, Local Body. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 40. Travel Agency Commissioner, Local Body. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 41. Tourism Events-Performance Licence. Commissioner, Local Body. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. Revenue and Disaster Management 42. Property Registration – Appointment Date. District Registrar / Sub-Registrar. 7 days from the date of receipt of application. 43. Property Registration – Issue of Registered Deed. District Registrar / Sub-Registrar. 3 days from the date of appointment. 44. Property Registration – Mutation. District Registrar / Sub-Registrar. 30 days from the date of Registration. 45. Encumbrance Certificate District Registrar / Sub-Registrar. 30 days from the date of Registration. 46. Measurement / Demarcation of Land. Director of Land and Survey. 30 days from the date of Registration. 47. Registration under State Excise. Deputy Commissioner – State Excise. 15 days from the date of receipt of application. 48. State Excise – Label Registration. Deputy Commissioner – State Excise. 15 days from the date of receipt of application. 49. Licence under State Excise for Local Sale, Import and Export permit of Spirit and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). Deputy Commissioner – State Excise. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 50. Registration under Legal Metrology Act, 2009. Controller of Legal Metrology. 15 days from the date of receipt of application. 51. Certificate for verification of Weights and Measures. Controller of Legal Metrology. 15 days from the date of receipt of application. 52. Registration under State Cinema Regulation Rules. District Collector 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 53. State Protected Monument – Movie Shooting Permission. District Collector 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 54. Permission from District Collector for Movie Shooting. District Collector 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 55. Cinematograph Licence and Licence for Screening Films (as applicable). District Collector 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 56. State Excise Licence Deputy Commissioner – State Excise 15 days from the date of receipt of application. (a) Wholesale vendor Licence. (b) Import Permits (c) Licence for Retail Sale (d) Licence for Setting up of Distilleries. (e) Licence for Setting up of Bottling Plant. 57. NOC required for setting up of explosives manufacturing, storage, sale, transport. District Collector 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 58. NOC required for setting up of petroleum, diesel, naphtha storage, sale, transport. District Collector 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 59. Licence for Sale of Crackers District Collector 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 60. Mining Lease / Composite Licence / Non-exclusive Reconnaissance Permit. District Collector 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 61. Issue of letter of Intent in case of fresh lease (for environmental clearance – category B2-Less than 5 acres). District Collector 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 62. NOC for Soil excavation / filling. District Collector 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 63. Licensing for Auditorium / Places of Public Amusement / Performance for Public Amusement (as Applicable). District Collector 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 64. Resolution of Public Grievances. District Collector 30 days from the date of receipt of application. Health and Family Welfare Department 65. Registration for Provisional / Permanent Certificate for clinical establishment under Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010. Director of Health and Family Welfare. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 66. Registration under PC & PNDT Act, 1994 (Amended, 2003) (for 5 years). Director of Health and Family Welfare. 70 days from the date of receipt of application. Department of Drugs Control 67. Retail Licence under the Provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules made thereunder. Licensing Authority 15 days from the date of receipt of application. 68. Wholesale Licence under the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules made thereunder. Licensing Authority 15 days from the date of receipt of application. 69. Granting of Drug Manufacturing Licence. Licensing Authority 30 days from the date of receipt of application. Food Safety 70. Grant of State Licence for Food Business. (a) First Response from Licensing Authority upon scrutiny application. [sub-clause 2.1.4 (2) of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011]. Designated Officer 15 days from the receipt of application. (b) Generation of Licence [sub-clause 2.1.6 of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011]. Designated Officer 60 days from the date of making the complete application. 71. Health NOC for Food Registration Certificate (a) Grant of FSSAI Registration Certificate, if inspection not required. [sub-clause 2.1.1 (3) of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011]. Registering Authority 07 days from the date of the application. (b) Grant of FSSAI Registration Certificate, if inspection required. [sub-clause 2.1.1 (4) of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011]. Registering Authority 30 days from the date of the application. Transport Department 72. Registration of Vehicles Transport Commissioner 2 days from the date of receipt of application. 73. Transfer of vehicle registration. Transport Commissioner 10 days from the date of receipt of application. 74. Issuing Vehicle fitness certificate. Transport Commissioner 5 days from the date of receipt of application. 75. Grant of Permit – Taxi, Maxi Cab, Omni Bus. Transport Commissioner 15 days from the date of receipt of application. 76. Goods Carriage Permit Transport Commissioner 10 days from the date of receipt of application. Commercial Taxes Department 77. Registration under GST Commissioner, Commercial Taxes. As per Central GST Act. Fire Service Department 78. Fire Licence / NOC Divisional Fire Officer 30 days from the date of receipt of application. Forest and Wildlife Department 79. Certificate of Non-Forest Land. Conservator of Forest 15 days from the date of receipt of application. 80. Letter for Distance from Forest. Conservator of Forest 15 days from the date of receipt of application. Department of Information Technology 81. Mobile Tower Approval Director of Information Technology 30 days from the date of receipt of application. Police Department 82. Movie Shooting Permission Director-General of Police. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. Registrar of Co-operative Societies 83. Registration of Co-operative Societies. Registrar of Co-operative Societies. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. Ground Water Authority 84. NOC for Water abstraction from Puducherry Ground Water Authority. Member-Secretary, Puducherry Ground Water Authority. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs 85. Grant of Licence for ‘Fair Price Shops’ under the relevant Act. Director of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. Department of School Education 86. Approvals for setting up Hostel. Director of School Education. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 87. Approvals for setting up and operating a Play School. Director of School Education. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 88. Registration of Schools under Right to Education. Director of School Education. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 89. NOC for setting up of CBSE School. Director of School Education. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. Directorate of Industries and Commerce 90. Investor Facilitation Centre / Investment Promotion – Queries to be addressed. Director of Industries and Commerce. 15 days from the date of receipt of application. 91. Incentives Director of Industries and Commerce. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. 92. Procurement Director of Industries and Commerce. 30 days from the date of receipt of application. • All queries / clarification related to the application have to be sought within 7 days from the date of receipt of application, in one go. Renewals, wherever applicable in the above services, shall be issued within 7 days from the date of application, across the board. Mis-submitted applications shall be redirected within 3 days by the mis-received Authority / Officer to concerned Authority / Officer.