In a significant boost to India’s regulatory environment, both houses of Parliament have passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026.
The legislation marks a major step towards fostering a trust-based governance framework by decriminalising minor offences and rationalising penalties across multiple central laws.
The Bill amends 784 provisions from 79 Central Acts that are administered by 23 Ministries. Out of these, 717 provisions have been decriminalised, replacing imprisonment with civil penalties like fines to promote Ease of Doing Business. Additionally, 67 provisions have been revised to enhance Ease of Living for ordinary citizens. Overall, the reforms aim to simplify over 1,000 offences by eliminating outdated or minor criminal provisions, thus reducing unnecessary litigation and compliance burdens.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted the Bill’s role in building public trust and supporting MSMEs during the Rajya Sabha discussion. The legislation builds on the earlier Jan Vishwas Act of 2023 and addresses long-standing concerns about over-criminalisation in regulatory laws.
The Bill was originally introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 18, 2025, as the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025. It initially proposed changes to 355 provisions across 16 Central Acts administered by 10 Ministries/Departments. After being referred to a Select Committee chaired by Shri Tejasvi Surya, which held 49 sittings and conducted extensive stakeholder consultations, the scope was significantly expanded. The Committee recommended decriminalisation across additional Acts, leading to the withdrawal of the 2025 version and the introduction of the broader 2026 Bill.
Passed by voice vote in the Lok Sabha on April 1, 2026, and subsequently in the Rajya Sabha on April 2, the Jan Vishwas Bill 2026 is expected to ease the regulatory burden on businesses and individuals alike. By shifting minor offences from criminal to civil adjudication, the government aims to unclog courts, encourage entrepreneurship, and create a more proportionate and business-friendly legal ecosystem.
This reform is part of the government’s ongoing efforts under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to modernise India’s legal and regulatory framework, aligning it with the vision of a developed nation where governance prioritises trust over suspicion.
Experts believe the Bill will particularly benefit micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by removing the fear of imprisonment for technical or minor lapses, while maintaining strong deterrence for serious violations.
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