Regulators
Government eases food business rules, introduces perpetual FSSAI licences
Perpetual licences and higher turnover limits aim to cut red tape
NEW DELHI: The Union Health Ministry of India has approved a set of regulatory reforms designed to simplify compliance for food businesses while maintaining strict food safety standards across the country.
The reforms, developed after consultations with states, union territories and industry stakeholders, also draw on recommendations from a high level committee on non financial regulatory reforms set up by NITI Aayog.
One of the most notable changes is the move towards perpetual validity for registrations and licences issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Earlier, food business operators had to renew these periodically. Under the new framework, the licences will remain valid indefinitely, cutting down paperwork, compliance costs and repeated visits to licensing authorities.
Officials say the change will allow regulators to spend less time on administrative renewals and more on monitoring, enforcement and capacity building within the food sector.
The ministry has also raised the turnover threshold for registration from Rs 12 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore. Businesses with turnover up to Rs 50 crore will now fall under state licensing, while companies above that level will require central licensing. The revised thresholds will come into effect from 1 April 2026.
The change is expected to simplify compliance for micro and small food enterprises by reducing fees, paperwork and pre-inspection requirements. For state authorities, the adjustment is meant to sharpen focus on oversight and enforcement within their jurisdictions.
Street food vendors stand to gain as well. Vendors already registered with municipal corporations or town vending committees under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 will now be treated as automatically registered under FSSAI rules. The step is expected to benefit more than one million vendors by removing the need for multiple registrations across departments.
Another key feature of the reforms is the introduction of a technology driven risk based inspection system. Instead of routine checks for all operators, inspections will be prioritised based on factors such as the type of food handled, past compliance records and third party audit results.
The ministry said the approach would ensure focused oversight while reducing unnecessary inspections for businesses with strong compliance histories.
Taken together, the reforms aim to strike a balance between easing the regulatory load on food businesses and ensuring that food safety standards remain firmly in place for consumers.
Regulators
India eyes digital leap with major public Wi-Fi expansion plan
TRAI seeks to bridge the digital divide by boosting high-speed hotspots nationwide
NEW DELHI: India is gearing up for a significant digital makeover as the nation’s telecoms watchdog unveils an ambitious roadmap to blanket the country in high-speed Public Wi-Fi. In a comprehensive consultation paper released on 27th April 2026, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has signalled that it is time to turn the “missing link” of connectivity into a robust bridge for the digital economy.
The initiative aims to solve a persistent puzzle: while India boasts some of the world’s lowest mobile data tariffs, network congestion in crowded cities and patchy coverage in rural heartlands continue to hamper the “Digital India” dream. By shifting heavy data traffic from mobile networks to high-capacity Public Wi-Fi, officials hope to offer a smoother, more reliable experience for everything from remote work to telemedicine.
The proposal suggests that high-quality broadband is the essential engine behind secure, real-time digital interactions between the Government and its citizens. By treating Public Wi-Fi as a vital utility, much like water or electricity, the nation aims to support the next generation of technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality.
The paper highlights that despite the 2020 launch of the PM-WANI framework, which allowed small shopkeepers to become “Public Data Offices” (PDOs), the country has yet to hit its target of 10 million hotspots. To fix this, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is looking at international success stories. From South Korea’s government-led model to the market-driven approach of the United Kingdom, India is searching for the perfect blend of public support and private enterprise.
One of the key hurdles identified is the trust deficit. Many users perceive Public Wi-Fi as a security risk, but the report argues that with modern encryption like WPA3 and secure login methods, these networks can be just as safe as private ones. The new plan explores advanced authentication methods to make connecting as simple as a single tap while ensuring robust data protection.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is also urging local municipal bodies to play a bigger part by allowing Wi-Fi equipment on street furniture like lamp posts and bus stops. With the digital economy projected to contribute nearly 20 per cent of India’s Gross Value Added by 2030, the push for ubiquitous Wi-Fi is seen as a vital investment in the nation’s future.
As the consultation period opens, the message from New Delhi is clear: the future of India’s internet is not just mobile, it is shared, scalable, and most importantly, everywhere. Stakeholders have until 25th May 2026 to share their views on how to turn these wireless ambitions into a nationwide reality.
