New Delhi, Feb. 6 -- In 2011, a British bakery was fined for selling metric bread rolls instead of the traditional imperial ones-because, apparently, the greatest threat to public order was a rogue baguette. This kind of regulatory absurdity will not come as a surprise to people in India, and that is exactly why the finance minister's announcement of a High-Level Committee for Regulatory Reforms (HLC) is a breath of fresh air.

The word 'regulation' comes from the Latin 'regula,' meaning 'a straight stick'-but in India, regulations resemble a pretzel, twisted beyond recognition.

To untangle this mess, the panel should follow these principles: Cut redundant rules instead of layering new ones, bury outdated 'zombie laws,' make inspections ...