We are pleased to inform you that the Government of Tamil Nadu has launched the Traders & Retailers Module on the Tamil Nadu Single Window Portal (TNSWP), aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business in the State.
This module enables traders and retailers to access 22 key regulatory clearances, including Shops & Establishments Registration and local body trade licenses, required to establish and operate their businesses.
To learn more about the portal, please click here:
Access the portal directly:
The portal is available in both Tamil and English, ensuring greater accessibility for businesses across Tamil Nadu.
Members operating in the State of Tamil Nadu are encouraged to explore and adopt this system for streamlined approvals and compliance.
We also request you to share your valuable feedback and suggestions to help improve the platform. Additionally, please write to us regarding any challenges faced while using the portal, so that we can take them up with the concerned authorities.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh has issued a notification under the Andhra Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act, 1988, permitting shops and commercial establishments in urban local bodies (population above 4 lakhs) to operate 24/7 throughout the year as part of ease of doing business reforms.
Please click here to view the notification:
RAI believes that this move will support the growth of the retail sector in the state and provide greater flexibility and convenience to customers.
We are pleased to inform you of a significant and welcome development announced by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The key highlights of the reform are as follows:
1. Perpetual Validity of FSSAI License and Registration
FSSAI licenses and registrations will now have perpetual validity, eliminating the need for periodic renewals that were previously required.
Please click on the link below to view the notification
2. Revised Turnover Thresholds
The turnover thresholds for different categories of FSSAI registration and licensing have been revised:
• Basic Registration: Up to Rs. 1.5 crore annual turnover
• State License: Above Rs. 1.5 crore and up to Rs. 50 crore annual turnover
• Central License: Above Rs. 50 crore annual turnover
Please click on the link below to view the notification
RAI welcomes these reforms and believes that these reforms significantly reduce the compliance burden on food businesses.
RAI has submitted a representation to the Government of Goa highlighting the operational, commercial, and compliance challenges related to the proposed implementation of the Deposit Refund System (DRS), scheduled to come into effect from 2nd April 2026.
RAI has requested the Government to consider a deferment of the scheme and undertake wider stakeholder consultations to ensure overall ecosystem readiness. Please click on the link below to view RAI's submission:
We will continue to engage with the authorities on behalf of our members and keep you informed of any developments. Members are encouraged to share additional inputs or on-ground challenges with the RAI team so that these can be discussed during meetings with the authorities.
RAI has submitted a detailed representation to the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the hardship being faced by retailers due to the freezing of bank accounts by banks, pursuant to instructions issued by National Cyber Crime authorities.
The representation highlights key challenges being experienced by retailers across the country, including blanket freezing of accounts, lack of prior notice, disproportionate operational impact, and the need for clear guidelines to ensure proportionality and due process, while fully supporting the Government’s efforts to combat cybercrime.
A copy of the representation is enclosed herewith for your information and reference.
RAI continues to engage with the relevant Ministries, regulators, and stakeholders on this matter and will keep members informed of any further developments.
Should you have specific inputs or experiences you wish to share, you may write to palak@rai.net.in separately
Retailers Association of India is pleased to share the Advisory on Customer Personal Data Protection and Consent Compliance Framework, issued to support member organizations in strengthening compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
It is intended to help members align legal compliance with operational continuity and customer trust.
The advisory outlines key principles and practical guidance on consent management, data governance, and operational compliance across retail channels and third-party engagements. It has been reviewed by the Advocacy Committee of RAI.
Members are encouraged to review the advisory and evaluate its applicability to their internal policies and processes. This document can be accessed by clicking on the link below:
It is issued for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice.
RAI delegation held a meeting with Shri Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, DPIIT and represented that large amusement park machines—imported in limited quantities, of high value and specialized nature, and used exclusively for self-operation—should be kept outside the purview of the proposed QCO or be provided with a specific exemption mechanism. RAI had submitted the following representation to the Department in this regard:
The delegation was asked to submit a roadmap for phase-wise implementation of the QCO.
We shall keep you posted on any development in this regard.
Retailers Association of India (RAI) welcomes the Government of Uttar Pradesh’s decision to cap stamp duty and registration fees on lease deeds — a long-standing recommendation that RAI and other industry bodies have been advocating for on behalf of India’s retail and commercial sectors. It was highlighted that high and unpredictable stamp duty and registration fees act as a deterrent to formal tenancy registration.
Under the new system, maximum stamp duty and registration fees have been capped. These limits will be based on the tenancy period and average annual rent and certainly saves money for retailers.
Please click on the link below to view the notification:
https://shorturl.at/BkHSl
RAI delegation attended a meeting at Parliament House on 7th November 2025 to present and discuss RAI’s comments and suggestions with the Hon’ble Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce (PSC) regarding Ease of Doing Retail Business in India. The PSC, comprising various Members of Parliament, was receptive to the prevailing issues faced by the retail industry as highlighted during the meeting.
The key areas of discussion included, but were not limited to: implementation of the National Retail Trade Policy, Multiple and cumbersome retail licence and renewal processes, Need for an entry-level unified licence and extended validity, Uniformity in Central and State regulations, QCO-related concerns and Issues pertaining to CPCB compliances etc.
The Committee appreciated the comments made by RAI and has requested written inputs for further consideration.
We request you to kindly share your inputs and suggestions on the above topics (and any other relevant concerns) on palak@rai.net.in latest by 12 November, 2025.
This is to bring to your kind attention that despite the official permission as per Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017 to operate round-the-clock, RAI members have reported instances where the retail establishments are being compelled to cease operations at midnight by local administration and police authorities.
Retailers Association of India raised the issue, after which the state government of Maharashtra clarified that—except liquor shops—businesses can operate round the clock if employees get a 24-hour weekly holiday. Please click on the link below to view the clarification: