Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2026: Decriminalisation, Key Reforms & Ease of Doing Business

Recently, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 passed by the Lok Sabha.

• The Bill has been brought in place of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025
• The proposed reforms are based on a comprehensive consultative process involving Inter‑Ministerial Committee meetings, High‑Level Committee meetings under NITI Aayog, interactions with industry associations, and civil society organisations.

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About The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026

• The Bill proposes:
  • Amendment of 784 provisions of 79 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries
  • Decriminalization of 717 provisions to promote Ease of Doing Business
  • Amendment of 67 provisions to facilitate Ease of Living

Key Features of Bill

• Omission of offences: The Bill removes offences such as: 
  • giving false alarm of fire under the Delhi Police Act, 1978, 
  • failure to give information of births and deaths under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957
  • making false entries in the register of copyrights under the Copyright Act, 1957.
• Revision of fines and penalties:  The Bill revises the monetary value of fines and penalties for several offences.  
  • It further provides that fines and penalties specified by it will increase by 10% of the respective minimum amount every three years.
• Adjudication of Penalties: The Bill amends certain Acts to provide for the appointment of adjudicating officers to hold inquiries and adjudicate penalties. 
  • It also provides for the appointment of appellate authorities to hear appeals against decisions of adjudicating officers.

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Significance

• Trust-Based Legal and Compliance Environment: The Bill reflects the Government’s commitment to fostering a trust-based legal and compliance environment, where citizens and businesses are not subjected to criminal sanctions for minor non-compliance. 
• Strengthen Economic Growth: By reducing the burden of criminal liability and simplifying regulatory processes, the Bill is expected to enhance compliance, promote investment, and strengthen economic growth.

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