Jan Vishwas Bill 2026 to decriminalise 717 provisions across 79 laws introduced in Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha on Friday witnessed the introduction of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2026 as the government renewed its push to decriminalise minor offences and advance what it described as a framework of trust-based governance aimed at improving ease of living and doing business.

The Bill was brought in through a supplementary list of business, signalling urgency in taking forward the reform. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada moved for leave to introduce the legislation, which was approved by the House through a voice vote.

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The move follows closely on the withdrawal of the earlier version, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, on March 18 after it was examined by a select committee. The withdrawal, initiated by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, was intended to allow incorporation of stakeholder feedback and committee recommendations into a revised framework.

The 2026 Bill seeks to amend 79 Central acts and decriminalise as many as 717 provisions, replacing imprisonment clauses for minor technical or procedural violations with monetary penalties, warnings, or advisory notices. The government said the changes are designed to reduce the compliance burden on businesses and individuals while ensuring proportionate enforcement.

According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons, Goyal emphasised that the reforms are aligned with the government’s broader vision of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.” “Reducing compliance burdens gives impetus to business process reengineering and improves ease of living for people,” he said, adding that decriminalisation of minor offences would help boost investor confidence and make India a more attractive investment destination.

A key feature of the Bill is the rationalisation of penalties through the designation of adjudicating officers to impose fines, ensuring that penalties are proportionate to the nature of the offence. It also introduces an automatic escalation mechanism, under which fines and penalties will increase by 10 percent every three years to maintain their deterrent value.

The legislation further provides relief for first-time offenders in certain cases by allowing warnings or advisory notices instead of immediate penalties, reflecting a shift towards a more facilitative regulatory approach.

The earlier 2025 Bill had similarly proposed replacing criminal penalties with civil penalties across a range of laws to improve ease of doing business. However, it was referred to a select committee amid concerns raised by stakeholders, prompting the government to revisit and refine the proposals before reintroducing them in the current form.

Officials indicated that the updated Bill incorporates lessons from consultations and aims to strike a balance between enforcement and ease of compliance. The Jan Vishwas initiative is part of a broader effort to reform regulatory frameworks by reducing the criminalisation of minor lapses and fostering a more trust-based relationship between the government, businesses, and citizens.

By focusing on decriminalisation and rationalisation of offences, the government expects to streamline regulatory processes, reduce litigation, and encourage entrepreneurship.