SARAL to replace K-SWIFT; Bill passed in Kerala assembly

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ‘Saral' will henceforth facilitate the easy granting of permits for starting businesses in Kerala. The Legislative Assembly passed the 'SARAL Kerala Bill 2026' on Thursday. The government assured that this new legislation will make the state more industry-friendly. Its core principle is: "One State, One Permit, One Document."

The former government introduced 'K-SWIFT' to spare entrepreneurs the ordeal of visiting at least twenty different government offices to obtain industrial permits. However, it did not achieve the expected success. Consequently, the new government came up with Simplified and Accelerated Regulatory Approvals and Licensing (SARAL).

K-SWIFT was a digital platform developed by KSIDC. It promised to provide applicants with clearances from over twenty government departments through a single portal, offering provisional approval immediately upon application, with the option to pay fees online. However, many entrepreneurs who launched their ventures relying on the 'in-principle approval' granted by K-SWIFT found themselves in a difficult predicament. Their industrial dreams hit a roadblock due to stringent inspections by various departments—such as the Fire Force, the Labour Department, and the Pollution Control Board.

To make matters worse, the portal was plagued by persistent technical glitches. With field-level inspections by local self-government institutions also proceeding at a snail's pace, the situation effectively reverted to the old, inefficient state of affairs. Aspiring entrepreneurs now hope that 'SARAL' (a similar initiative) does not meet the same fate.

1. A single statutory authority to grant all clearances through a unified window.

This will facilitate the issuance of the final approval, known as the 'Integrated Enterprise Clearance Certificate.'

2. The Bill mandates that relevant departments must complete their inspections and grant the required clearances within a maximum period of 75 days.

3. Investment projects ranging from Rs 25 crore to Rs 50 crore will be handled by a committee led by the District Collector, while projects exceeding Rs 50 crore will be managed under the leadership of the Chief Secretary.

4. Amendments will be made to 19 existing laws—covering areas such as land use for industrial purposes, environmental regulations, labour, and local self-government.

5. A mechanism will be established to allow entrepreneurs to file appeals should any department raise objections or create hurdles.