The Government of Gujarat on September 23, 2026, issued the Gujarat Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026.
The following has been stated:
• The Act amends five state enactments to simplify regulatory procedures, improve public service delivery and facilitate business operations. It amends the Gujarat Medical Council Act, 1967, to allow medical practitioners registered in another State to be entered in Gujarat’s register without additional prior approval or fees upon submission of a self-declaration. Amendments to the Gujarat Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2013, remove references to the National Building Code of India from specified provisions. The Gujarat (Right of Citizen to Public Services) Act, 2013, is amended to require written or electronic communication to complainants regarding grievance redressal and to provide for automatic escalation of complaints as appeals when authorities fail to decide within the prescribed timeframe; appeals against decisions may be filed within 30 days, with delayed appeals permitted for sufficient cause.
• Under amendments to the Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2019, employers shall apply for registration within 60 days from commencement of the Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026, or commencement of business, whichever is later, subject to an exemption for establishments holding valid registrations under the Gujarat Shops and Establishments Act, 1948, until expiry. The amendments also simplify the process for updating registration particulars and permit shops and establishments to remain open 24 hours on any day, subject to statutory provisions governing workers’ employment and working conditions.
• Further, the Gujarat Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation of Establishment and Operation) Act, 2019, is amended to include additional state laws relating to cooperatives, electricity duty, industrial development, irrigation and drainage, shops and establishments, special investment regions, and professional tax within its specified framework.
• The Act also contains savings provisions protecting existing rights, liabilities, proceedings and legal effects arising under amended enactments.
[Notification No. - GUJARAT ACT NO. 13 OF 2026]
