Industrial Policies & Regulations

Objectives

It enlists the rules and procedures that will monitor the growth and pattern of industrial activity. The industrial policy is neither fixed nor flexible. It is constructed, modified and further modification is done according to the changing situations, requirements and perspectives of developments.

The major objectives of industrial policy are discussed below.

Rapid Industrial Development

The industrial policy of the Government of India focuses at increasing the level of industrial development. It explores ways to construct favorable investment environment for the private sector and also for mobilizing resources for the investment in public sector. In this way, the government roots to promote rapid industrial growth in the country.

Balanced industrial Structure

The industrial policy is crafted to correct the prevailing downgraded industrial structure. Say for example, India had some fairly developed consumer products industries before independence but the capital goods sector was not at all developed, also basic and heavy industries were by and large absent.

Thus, industrial policy had to be enclosed in such a way that imbalances in the industrial structure are corrected by laying stress on heavy industries and development of capital goods sector. Industrial policy explores methods to maintain balance in industrial structure.

Prevention of Concentration of Economic Power

The industrial policy explores to facilitate a borderline of rules, regulations and reservation of spheres of activities for the public and private sectors. This is targeted at minimizing the dominating symptoms and preventing focus of economic power in the hands of a few big industrial houses.

Balanced Regional Growth

Industrial policy also targets at correcting differences of region in industrial development. It is a well-known fact that some regions in our country are quite developed industrially, like Maharashtra and Gujarat, while others are marked as industrially backward regions, like Bihar and Orissa. It is the job of industrial policy to amend some programs and policies, which will result in the development of industries or industrial growth.

The first industrial policy statement of the Government of India was formed in 1948 and was modified in 1956 in industrial development policy dominated by the public sector till 1991 with some minor modifications and amendments in 1977 and 1980.The year 1991 noticed far reaching changes that were made in the 1956 industrial policy. The new Industrial Policy of July 1991 witnessed the border outline for industrial development at present.

Industrial Policy Resolution 1956

In April 1956, the Indian Parliament adopted Industrial Policy Resolution of 1956 (IPR 1956). It is marked as the first comprehensive documented statement on industrial development of India. It systematizes three different groups of clearly defined industries.

The policy of 1956 regulated to design the basic economic policy for a very long time. The Five-Year Plans of India confirmed this fact. With respect to this Resolution, the establishment of a socialistic pattern of society was seen through the objective of the social and economic policy in India. It ensured more powers to the governmental authorities.

Companies were grouped into categories. These categories were −

Schedule A − Those companies which were considered as an exclusive responsibility of the state or the society.
Schedule B − Companies which were marked as progressively state-owned and in which the state would basically establish new companies, but in which private companies would be anticipated only to supplement the effort of the state.
Schedule C − The left companies and their future development would, in general, be neglected and would be entirely dependent to the initiative and enterprise of the private sector.

Even though there was a category of companies left to the private sector that is those companies that are above Schedule C. The sector was monitored by the state by a system of licenses. So to set up a new company or to widen production, obtaining a license from the government was a prerequisite to be fulfilled. Launching of new companies in economically backward areas was incentivized through easy licensing and subsidization of important inputs, like electricity and water. This step was taken to encounter regional differences that existed in the country. In fact, the license to boost the production was issued by convincing the government that the economy required more of the products and services.

Some other salient behavior of the IPR 1956 was fair and non-biased treatment for the private sector, motivating the village and small-scale companies, eradicating regional differences, and the requirement for the provision of amenities for labor, and attitude to foreign capital. This Industrial Policy of 1956 is also referred to as the Economic Constitution of the country.

Policy Measures

Some of the essential policy measures were declared and procedural simplifications were undertaken to opt for the above stated objectives. Following are some of the policy measures −

Liberalization of Industrial Licensing Policy

A list of goods demanding compulsory licensing is reviewed on an ongoing regular basis. Currently, only six industries are monitored under compulsory licensing mainly on account of environmental, safety and strategic considerations that need to be taken care of. In the same way, there are only three industries reserved specifically for the public sector. The lists of goods under compulsory licensing and industries reserved for the public sector are included in Appendix III and IV respectively.

Introduction of Industrial Entrepreneurs' Memorandum (IEM)

Companies which don’t require compulsory licensing are expected to file an Industrial Entrepreneurs' Memorandum (IEM) to the Secretariat for Industrial Assistance (SIA). Industrial approval is not needed for these types of exempted industries. Amendments are also permitted to IEM proposals filed after 1.7.1998.

Liberalization of the Locational Policy

A crucially reformed locational policy in tune with the liberalized licensing policy is in place. Approval from industries are not required from the Government for locations not within the range of 25 kms of the periphery of cities having a population of more than one million apart for those industries, where industrial licensing is compulsory. Non-polluting enterprises like electronics, computer software and printing can be located within 25 kms of the periphery of cities with more than one million population. Other industries are allowed in such locations only if they are located in an industrial area so designated prior to 25.7.91. Zoning and follow land use regulations as well as environmental legislations.

Policy for Small Scale Industries

Reservation of goods that are manufactured exclusively for small scale industries ensures effective measure for protecting this sector. Since 24th December 1999, entrepreneurial undertakings with a maximum investment up to rupees one crore are within the small scale and ancillary sector.

Non-Resident Indians Scheme

The general policy and provisions for Foreign Direct Investment as available to foreign investors or company are completely applicable for NRIs as well. With addition to this, the government has broadened some concessions mostly for NRIs and overseas corporate bodies having more than 60% stake by the NRIs. These include investment by NRI/OCB in the real estate and housing sectors, domestic airlines sector up to 100%.They are also permitted to invest up to 100% equity on non-repatriation basis in all activities except for a small negative list.

EHTP vs STP Scheme

For constructing strong electronics company along with a view to modify export, two schemes viz. Electronic Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) and Software Technology Park (STP) are in function. Under EHTP/STP scheme, the inputs are permitted to be procured free of duties.

Policy for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

Promotion of FDI forms a vital part of India's economic policies. The role of FDI in boosting economic growth is by way of infusion of capital, technology and modern management activities. The Department has put in place a liberal and transparent foreign investment egime where all the practices are opened to foreign investment on automatic route without any limit on the extent of foreign ownership.

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