Telangana's TG-iPASS 2.0 to bring 96 approvals under one digital roof

The Telangana government is consolidating nearly 96 approvals into a single digital platform under its TG-iPASS 2.0 initiative, a senior official said on Friday. The move aims to simplify the process for setting up and expanding businesses across commercial, educational, clinical, and other establishments.

Speaking at a seminar organised as part of National Paper Day, Director of Industries Nikhil Chakravarthy said the platform will integrate these approvals with a 'deemed approval' mechanism. Under this system, if approvals are not granted within 30 days, they are considered automatically approved. This model has already earned Telangana recognition for Ease of Doing Business, he added.

Mr. Chakravarthy explained that the concepts of 'speed of doing business' and 'right to do business' are being embedded into the TG-iPASS single-window approval system. The objective is to significantly reduce bureaucratic delays and make the state more attractive to investors.

For green and white category industries—those with minimal environmental impact—the government aims to allow businesses to commence operations immediately. These businesses would then be given adequate time to obtain post-establishment approvals. “We are working towards giving this framework statutory backing, making Telangana an even more industry-friendly destination. We are committed to being pro-commerce, pro-trade, and pro-merchant,” Mr. Chakravarthy said.

By bringing more approvals onto a single platform, the government wants to streamline the entire lifecycle of a business—from inception to expansion. The official also called upon stakeholders in the paper industry to embrace innovation, sustainability, and technological advancement to remain globally competitive.

The seminar was jointly organised by the Federation of Paper Traders Association (FPTA) and the Telangana Paper Merchants' Association (TPMA).

During the event, FPTA President Elect T. Kishan Singh highlighted the evolving nature of the paper trade, driven by changing consumer demands, digital transformation, and sustainability imperatives. He appealed to the government to reduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on paper and paperboard packaging from 18% to 5%, arguing that a lower rate would benefit the industry and end consumers.

TPMA president Abhishek Vijaywargiya and secretary Ashish Jain Bhansali also spoke at the gathering, according to a release issued by the organisers on Friday.