Vedanta Limited Chairman Anil Agarwal has endorsed the Government of India’s push toward trust-based governance, stating that simplified regulatory systems and reduced compliance burdens are essential for accelerating manufacturing-led economic growth and employment generation in the country. In a post shared on X, Mr Agarwal praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance,” describing it as a transformative approach that is reshaping India’s economic and business environment. He highlighted the growing role of trust-driven regulatory systems in improving efficiency and enabling faster economic activity across sectors.
Drawing attention to the passenger experience at Indian airports, Mr Agarwal noted that nearly all international travelers now clear customs without lengthy physical inspections, reflecting the success of technology-enabled and trust-oriented systems. According to him, this shift demonstrates how streamlined governance models can improve efficiency while maintaining strong oversight mechanisms.
He further stated that the recently enacted Jan Vishwas Bill represents another important step toward building a more business-friendly ecosystem by reducing unnecessary procedural barriers and encouraging ease of doing business. Mr Agarwal emphasized that the foremost responsibility of any government should be to support economic expansion, industrial growth and large-scale job creation through manufacturing.
He observed that India’s ambitions of becoming a global manufacturing hub require a regulatory environment that promotes productivity rather than creating excessive administrative hurdles. While stressing the importance of strict enforcement against serious criminal activities such as narcotics trafficking and arms smuggling, he said that the broader business community should operate within a framework based on trust and accountability. According to him, excessive regulatory intervention often diverts attention away from productive activities and slows industrial momentum.
Referring to insights generated through artificial intelligence-driven analysis, Mr Agarwal highlighted what he described as a significant disparity in regulatory practices between India and several global manufacturing economies. He noted that while some countries issue approximately 100 regulatory notices, India currently generates nearly 800 notices despite operating at substantially lower production levels.
He argued that such compliance-heavy processes create avoidable “speed breakers” for both industry leaders and government officials, reducing operational efficiency and limiting the pace of growth. Mr Agarwal said reforms under the Jan Vishwas framework could help remove these barriers and create a more enabling environment for businesses to expand manufacturing activities.
Industry observers believe the remarks reflect growing corporate support for ongoing policy reforms aimed at improving ease of doing business and reducing compliance complexity. Over the last few years, the Indian government has introduced several initiatives focused on simplifying regulations, digitising approvals and promoting investment across manufacturing sectors.
Mr Agarwal also underlined the importance of encouraging entrepreneurship and industrial investment to strengthen India’s economic position globally. He stated that a balanced approach combining efficient governance with accountability can significantly enhance investor confidence and industrial competitiveness.
India has been positioning itself as a major manufacturing destination under initiatives such as “Make in India” and production-linked incentive schemes across sectors including electronics, automotive, renewable energy, defence and semiconductors. Business leaders have increasingly called for regulatory systems that support faster execution, simplified approvals and improved operational flexibility.
The Vedanta Chairman’s comments come at a time when India is witnessing strong momentum in infrastructure development, industrial expansion and supply chain diversification. Experts believe that trust-based governance models can play a crucial role in helping India attract global investments while improving productivity and supporting long-term economic growth.
With manufacturing expected to remain a key driver of employment and GDP expansion, Mr Agarwal reiterated that reducing procedural bottlenecks and enabling smoother business operations will be critical for sustaining India’s development trajectory in the coming years.
