Summaries by Pradeep S. Mehta

India urgently needs a central law for Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) to optimize legislation, making it more evidence-based, transparent, and inclusive. Current trade agreements increasingly include RIA provisions, underscoring this need for better regulatory practices and coherence. While India has some fragmented policies and sectoral initiatives, a comprehensive statutory framework is crucial. Such a law would systematize impact assessments, provide a national and sub-national anchor, and fulfill international commitments. It’s presented not as a reactive measure to trade pacts, but as a long overdue proactive step to enhance governance, ease of doing business, and reaffirm the rule of law.