Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Shops, malls, restaurants, hotels, cafes, garages and showrooms in Gujarat can now remain open 24 hours a day after the Gujarat Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2026 was passed by a majority in the state Assembly.
The amendment to the law related to the Gujarat Shops and Establishments Act, commonly referred to as the ‘Gumasta Dhara’, was introduced on the last day of the Assembly’s monsoon session. Under the new provision, police and local authorities will not be able to close commercial establishments solely because of restrictions on operating hours.
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However, establishments will still have to comply with rules related to cleanliness, traffic management and safety.
WHAT CHANGES FOR SHOPS AND BUSINESSES
Under the existing system, shops and other commercial establishments faced restrictions on their operating hours, with some exceptions for areas such as municipal corporation zones, hospitals, national highways, railway stations, petrol pumps and bus stations.
In municipal and state highway areas, shops were required to remain closed between 2 am and 6 am, while in other areas the closure period was from 11 pm to 6 am.
The new amendment removes these time restrictions, allowing shops and establishments to operate 24/7 on any day of the week.
The provision, however, does not mean employees can be made to work continuously. Existing legal provisions concerning working hours, rest intervals, leave, employment conditions and workers’ safety will continue to apply.
FOCUS ON EASE OF DOING BUSINESS
Gujarat Minister of State for Industry Dr Jairam Gamit said the Gujarat Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2026 was passed to make regulatory processes in the state simpler, faster, transparent and more industry-friendly.
According to Gamit, the bill aims to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on industries and citizens, simplify procedures, promote self-declaration and self-certification, and strengthen risk-based and technology-driven governance.
The legislation also seeks to reduce mandatory pre-clearance and physical interaction for low-risk activities, moving towards a trust-based governance system.
The bill brings 12 amending provisions across five different state laws under one framework, simplifying the legislative process and saving the Assembly’s time.
KEY LEGAL REFORMS UNDER THE BILL
Gujarat Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2013: Fire safety standards will be made risk-based and performance-oriented. Regulations will be adapted according to local conditions and building types, with the aim of reducing compliance costs.
Gujarat Shops and Establishments Act, 2019: Registration will be made easier through self-declaration and self-certification. At the same time, workers’ rights and safety will remain protected alongside the provision for 24/7 operations.
Gujarat MSME Facilitation Act, 2019: The ‘Right to Business’ framework for micro, small and medium enterprises will be strengthened. Eight additional state laws, including those concerning cooperatives, electricity, GIDC and irrigation, have been aligned with the facilitation framework.
Gujarat Medical Council Act, 1967: Doctors registered in other states will find it easier to register in Gujarat on the basis of self-declaration. The move is aimed at facilitating medical services and professional mobility.
Gujarat Right of Citizens to Public Services Act, 2013: Technology-based ‘auto-appeal’ and ‘auto-escalation’ mechanisms will be introduced. If a government service or complaint is not resolved within the stipulated time, the matter will automatically move to a higher authority.
LINK TO GUJARAT’S INDUSTRIAL POLICY
Gamit said the reforms would be an important milestone in implementing the Gujarat Industrial Policy 2026 and the state’s ‘Developed Gujarat to Developed India @2047’ vision.
He also linked the changes to the recently held Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summits across all four regions and the upcoming 11th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit-2027, which is scheduled to be held in January under the theme ‘Developed Gujarat: Shaping Global Future’.
The minister said the bill would help remove unnecessary procedural complexities while ensuring that public safety, workers’ rights and public health were not compromised.
He said the state government’s approach was in line with the Prime Minister’s ‘Reform, Perform and Transform’ mantra and would help create a more favourable environment for investment, industry and employment.
Gamit said Gujarat was moving ahead as a leading state in investment, industrial development, entrepreneurship and ease of doing business. He added that the passage of the bill would help the state achieve higher levels of ease of doing business and ease of living.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
