Industrial Approvals & Single-Window Consultant
Quick answer: Most businesses need an IEM filing, not an industrial licence — true licensing applies to only a handful of sensitive sectors. We navigate NSWS for central approvals, the correct state single-window portal for state ones, and SEZ unit setup where it applies.
Industrial licensing and IEM — what actually applies to you
Compulsory industrial licensing under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act now covers a short, specific list: defence/aerospace electronics, industrial explosives, certain hazardous chemicals, and tobacco/cigarette manufacturing — plus a few locational triggers near large cities. Nearly everyone outside that list files an Industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum (IEM) instead — Part A on intent to set up, Part B on commencement of production — now filed through the National Single Window System. IEM is a statistical/acknowledgement filing, not a licence, and it is separate from Udyam registration.
National Single Window System — an honest assessment
NSWS has genuinely scaled: as of late 2026 it hosts over 320 central and 3,400+ state approvals across 32 central ministries and 34 states/UTs. It's genuinely useful for the central approvals that are deeply integrated at transaction level — PESO licensing is the standout example. For state-level approvals, though, NSWS mostly functions as a gateway that redirects you to the state's own portal; the real processing for land, state electricity connections and most environmental clearances still happens outside it, through direct departmental engagement. We treat NSWS as one entry point among several, not a single solution.
State single-window portals (verify current status before relying on a name)
| State | Current portal |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh (Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad) | Nivesh Mitra 3.0, launched 24 March 2026 |
| Haryana (Gurugram, Faridabad) | Haryana Enterprise Promotion Centre (HEPC) / Invest Haryana |
| Bihar | Bihar Single Window Clearance System |
| Delhi | No single comprehensive window — approvals run department-wise (Labour, DPCC, MCD) |
Setting up a unit inside an existing SEZ
File Form F on SEZ Online (NDML) with the developer's signed space-offer or lease consent, a project report, capital-goods and raw-material lists, promoter financials, and CA-certified shareholding details. The Unit Approval Committee meets fortnightly and targets a decision within roughly 15 days, checking space availability, environmental compliance, and whether your unit will stay Net-Foreign-Exchange positive. Once approved, accept the Letter of Approval with a digital signature, sign the lease, and execute a Bond-cum-Legal Undertaking before commencing operations. The LoA is valid one year to start operations (extendable), then five years from commencement, renewable in further five-year blocks tied to export performance.
Talk to us before you file anything
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an industrial licence to start a factory?
Almost certainly not. Compulsory industrial licensing under the IDR Act now applies to only a short list — defence/aerospace electronics, industrial explosives, specified hazardous chemicals, and tobacco products — plus a few locational cases. Most businesses in delicensed sectors file an Industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum (IEM) instead, which is a filing, not a licence.
Is IEM the same as Udyam registration?
No. Udyam is MSME classification based on investment and turnover. IEM is a separate DPIIT filing for delicensed industries — Part A declares intent to set up, Part B confirms commencement of production. The two serve entirely different purposes.
Can I get all my approvals through the National Single Window System?
Not yet, realistically. Central approvals are well-integrated — PESO's licensing modules, for instance, are fully integrated — but most state-level approvals mainly route you to the state's own portal through NSWS's registration form. Land titles, state electricity connections, and environmental appraisal-committee steps still need direct follow-up outside NSWS.
How do I set up a unit inside an existing SEZ, like Noida SEZ?
File Form F on SEZ Online with the developer's space-offer letter, project report, and finance documentation. The Unit Approval Committee reviews it (meeting fortnightly, with a roughly 15-day decision target), checks your projected Net Foreign Exchange position, and issues a Letter of Approval — after which you sign the lease and execute a Bond-cum-Legal Undertaking before starting operations.
Which single-window portal applies in UP right now?
Nivesh Mitra 3.0, launched 24 March 2026, is the current portal (niveshmitra.up.gov.in). The older Nivesh Mitra 2.0 is kept running only for tracking legacy applications filed before the switch — new applications go through 3.0.
What's the practical difference between NSWS and a state portal like Nivesh Mitra?
NSWS is the central gateway and handles central-government approvals directly; for state approvals, it largely redirects you to the state's own system. The actual processing for UP, Haryana, Bihar or Delhi state-level approvals happens on that state's portal, not inside NSWS itself — we work both layers rather than assuming NSWS alone covers everything.