Licence & Approval Advisory

What Is Licence & Approval Advisory?

Licence and approval advisory helps a business find out which licences, permits, consents and approvals its activity requires, which authority grants each, what must be in place before applying, and in what order to proceed. It is a planning and mapping exercise that comes before the application work.

The set of permissions depends on what the business does and where. A food business, a pharmacy, a factory, a hotel, a school, a clinic, a warehouse, a fintech business and an e-commerce seller all face different requirements. Some permissions are central, some state-level and some local. Some must be obtained before construction or commencement, others before operations, and many need periodic renewal. Starting an activity without a required licence can lead to closure, penalties or prosecution.

Advisory builds a clear roadmap: what is needed, from whom, with what prerequisites and how long each step typically takes. The applications themselves are handled under government application support, and basic registrations under government registration support. The Legal Bank is a private advisory platform and not a government body. Registrations, approvals and benefits are granted only by the authority concerned.

Who Needs Licence & Approval Advisory?

• Promoters setting up a manufacturing, processing or warehouse unit
• Food, restaurant, hospitality and retail businesses
• Healthcare, education and pharmaceutical businesses
• Businesses entering a regulated sector, such as finance or payments
• Businesses expanding to new premises, products or states
• Companies planning construction or change of land use
• Importers, exporters and businesses selling packaged goods

When Is Licence & Approval Advisory Required?

It is not legally mandated, but it is valuable when:

• A new business or unit is being planned and permissions are unclear
• The activity falls into a regulated category
• The project involves land, construction, environmental or safety aspects
• Several authorities are involved and the sequence matters
• An existing licence has lapsed, been refused or needs amendment
• The business is changing its activity, capacity or location
• Lenders or investors want a statement of licences and approvals

What Our Licence & Approval Advisory Includes

The advisory is based on the activity, location and the current official requirements, and typically covers:

• Understanding the business activity, products, capacity, premises and location
• Mapping applicable licences and approvals by authority: central, state and local
• Prerequisites for each: land use, building plans, ownership or lease documents, technical details
• Environmental and pollution control consents and categorisation, where relevant
• Fire, building, health and safety approvals, where relevant
• Food, drug, packaging, product and quality certification requirements, where relevant
• Sector regulator authorisation, where the activity is regulated
• Sequence and dependency map: what must precede what
• Indicative timelines, validity and renewal cycles
• Conditions attached to the licences and ongoing compliance
• Risks of operating without licences and transition options
• Recommended roadmap and, where chosen, application support

Legal and Practical Considerations

Environmental consents. Industrial activities generally need consent to establish and consent to operate from the State Pollution Control Board under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, depending on the category of the industry. Projects listed under the EIA Notification, 2006 may need prior environmental clearance before work begins.

Food and product regulation. Food businesses need registration or a licence from FSSAI or the state food authority under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, depending on size and kind of business. Packaged goods may need registration or compliance under legal metrology rules, and products covered by quality control orders need BIS certification under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.

Factory, labour and employer licences. Factory, boiler, contract labour and similar licences were governed by earlier central laws that have been consolidated under the Labour Codes brought into force from 21 November 2025, with rules and state implementation developing. Current requirements should be verified for your establishment and state.

Land, building and local approvals. Land use, conversion, building plan approval, fire safety and trade licences are granted by local and state authorities under state and municipal laws, and are often prerequisites for other approvals. In Rajasthan, industrial approvals are routed through the state single-window system where applicable.

Sector regulators. Regulated activities such as lending, payments, insurance, securities and telecom need authorisation from the relevant regulator, with their own eligibility and capital requirements.

Operating without a licence. Doing so can lead to closure, penalties and prosecution, and may affect insurance, loans and contracts. Current rules and fees must be verified from official sources.

Common Mistakes in Licensing and Approvals

• Starting construction or operations before obtaining required consents
• Assuming one licence covers all activities
• Wrong site choice because land use was not checked
• Not planning for the sequence and time each approval takes
• Applying for approvals with inconsistent documents
• Letting licences lapse without renewal
• Not complying with licence conditions after grant
• Relying on informal assurances instead of written approvals

Professional Fees, Government Fees and Timeline

Advisory carries no government fee. Licence and application fees, inspection charges and renewal fees are set by the concerned authorities and vary by activity and state; they should be verified at the time of application. Professional fees depend on the activity, number of licences and authorities, and whether application support is included. An advisory engagement typically takes 7 to 15 working days. The time for the licences themselves depends on the authorities.

Licence & Approval Advisory vs Government Application Support vs Government Registration Support

Licence and approval advisory maps what is needed and in what order. Government application support prepares and files the applications. Government registration support deals with basic registrations such as GST, Udyam and incorporation. Related services include Government Application Support, Government Registration Support and Regulatory Due Diligence.

Need Professional Assistance With Licence & Approval Advisory?

Knowing which permissions you need before you spend on land, building or machinery can prevent costly delays. The Legal Bank can help you map and sequence the licences and approvals for your activity. The Legal Bank is a private advisory platform and not a government body. Registrations, approvals and benefits are granted only by the authority concerned. Share your requirement to discuss the next steps.