CM hails transfer of licensing powers from police to civic bodies in 7 sectors

In a major step aimed at streamlining governance and promoting entrepreneurship, Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Rekha Gupta on Sunday welcomed the transfer of licensing responsibilities from Delhi Police to civic bodies across seven key business sectors. Calling it a “historic decision” and a “bold administrative reform,” the Chief Minister said the change reflects the Central Government’s vision of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” and provides a direct boost to the Ease of Doing Business in the national capital.

Licensing powers related to commercial activities such as hotels, motels, guest houses, restaurants, swimming pools, video game parlours, discotheques, amusement parks and auditoriums will now lie with local civic authorities including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment Board, among others, instead of the Delhi Police.

“The burden of licensing on Delhi Police was affecting their core responsibilities — maintaining law and order, ensuring women’s safety and crime prevention,” said CM Rekha Gupta.

The Chief Minister extended her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena for facilitating the transition. She called the move “timely, visionary and practical” from both administrative and citizen-centric perspectives.

CM Gupta further pointed out that Home Minister Amit Shah has long advocated relieving the police from non-core duties to allow them to focus on critical tasks. “This reform aligns perfectly with that vision. It sets an excellent precedent for Centre-State coordination and will play a key role in building a Viksit Delhi,” she added.

Under the new system, businesses will no longer have to approach the Delhi Police for licences or No Objection Certificates (NOCs) in the listed sectors. Instead, applications will be handled by the respective civic bodies, with a promise of a digitised, simplified and more transparent process.

The CM reiterated her government’s commitment to transforming Delhi into not just the political capital of India, but also a beacon of good governance. “We want to make Delhi not only the political capital of India but also a model of good governance. That is the mission of our double-engine government,” she said.

Delhi