Srinagar | July 13, 2025: In a deeply troubling development for aspiring entrepreneurs, the Jammu and Kashmir Single Window Clearance Portal—meant to streamline permissions and facilitate ease of doing business—has remained non-functional for several days, causing immense distress among youth-led startups.
A group of young entrepreneurs, including a startup provisionally registered with the Directorate of Industries for establishing a small-scale industrial unit at Khrew Industrial Estate, approached Kashmir Pen to highlight the magnitude of the issue. According to them, the continued outage of the portal has halted their progress, delaying critical approvals and impeding the next steps in setting up their ventures.
“This was supposed to be a system that empowered us, that allowed us to dream, build and contribute to the economy. Instead, it has turned into a bottleneck that’s crushing our hopes,” said one of the affected entrepreneurs, visibly distressed by the uncertainty surrounding his project.
Several others echoed the same concerns, pointing out that despite being provisionally cleared, they are unable to move forward with their industrial plans, owing to the inability to upload mandatory documentation, track applications, or access government services. For many, the portal was not just a formality—it was the backbone of their startup journey.
The Single Window Portal was introduced with the promise of transparency, accessibility, and efficiency in industrial clearances. Its failure has, however, exposed systemic flaws and raised questions about digital governance in the region.
“We are losing precious time—years that we could have dedicated to building something meaningful for ourselves and the community. It’s heartbreaking,” said another youth entrepreneur who had plans to set up a unit employing local workers in the Pulwama district.
The sense of urgency is particularly heightened in a region where youth unemployment remains a pressing concern and entrepreneurship is seen as a beacon of hope. The non-functionality of such a crucial platform only adds to the frustration of a generation already grappling with limited avenues.
The affected entrepreneurs have made a heartfelt appeal to the Jammu and Kashmir Government to immediately address the issue and restore the portal’s functionality. They stress that their frustration is not rooted in politics, but in the practical struggle of trying to be productive citizens in a system that seems unresponsive.
At a time when the government has been championing digital India, startup culture, and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), this disruption serves as a stark reminder of the gap between policy and execution.
Kashmir Pen urges the concerned departments, particularly the Directorate of Industries and the Information Technology Department, to take swift action. The youth of Kashmir deserve better—they deserve systems that work, platforms that support, and a future that’s not caught in bureaucratic gridlocks
