**Executive Summary**
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, introduced on March 27, 2026, proposes the amendment of 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts to promote Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living. The Bill shifts the regulatory framework from criminal penalties to civil enforcement for minor defaults, replacing imprisonment with rationalized monetary penalties. Key immediate objectives include the appointment of adjudicating officers and the establishment of appellate authorities to streamline dispute resolution.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Decriminalization and Rationalization**
* Decriminalization of 717 provisions to reduce the burden of criminal liability on businesses and citizens.
* Rationalization of more than 1,000 offences by removing outdated or redundant provisions.
* Shift from criminal penalties for minor, technical, or procedural defaults to civil and administrative enforcement mechanisms.
* Replacement of imprisonment provisions with monetary penalties or warnings.
**Enforcement Mechanisms**
* Implementation of graded enforcement, which includes providing warnings for first-time contraventions.
* Rationalization of fines and penalties to ensure they are proportionate to the nature of the offence.
* Provision for the appointment of Adjudicating Officers to ensure time-bound enforcement.
* Establishment of Appellate Authorities to facilitate the speedy disposal of cases and reduce the litigation burden on courts.
**Ease of Living Enhancements**
* Introduction of 67 amendments specifically aimed at simplifying citizen-centric procedures.
* Focus on enhancing convenience in municipal taxation under the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994.
* Simplification of vehicle-related compliance under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
**Legislative History and Governance**
* The Bill builds upon the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023, and a withdrawn 2025 version of the Bill.
* Reflects recommendations from a Select Committee report submitted on March 13, 2026, which involved 49 sittings and extensive consultations.
* Promotes a trust-based governance model aimed at boosting investment and economic growth.
**Impact Analysis**
**Businesses**
**Impact**
Businesses benefit from reduced criminal liability for minor non-compliance and simplified regulatory processes, fostering a trust-based environment for investment.
**Action Required**
Review internal compliance frameworks to align with the new administrative enforcement mechanisms and monetary penalty structures across the 79 amended Acts.
**Citizens**
**Impact**
Experience improved "Ease of Living" through simplified procedures for municipal taxes and motor vehicle compliance.
**Action Required**
Utilize the simplified procedures for vehicle-related compliance and municipal taxation as prescribed under the amended Acts.
**Ministries and Departments (23 Ministries)**
**Impact**
Responsible for administering the 784 amended provisions and transitioning from judicial to administrative enforcement.
**Action Required**
Appoint Adjudicating Officers and establish the necessary Appellate Authorities to handle contraventions and appeals efficiently.
**Judiciary**
**Impact**
The courts will see a reduction in the litigation burden as minor offences are moved to administrative adjudication.
**Action Required**
Shift focus toward the principles of natural justice while allowing administrative bodies to handle the disposal of the rationalized offences.
Key Entities Referenced
Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026: The primary legislation introduced to decriminalize 717 provisions across 79 Central Acts to promote Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living.
Jan Vishwas Act, 2023: The foundational reform initiative that started the process of decriminalizing minor offences, initially covering 183 provisions in 42 Central Acts.
Select Committee on the Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill, 2025: A parliamentary committee that conducted extensive consultations and recommended expanding the decriminalization scope to 62 additional Central Acts.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry: The primary ministry responsible for introducing the bill and advancing the trust-based governance framework.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill,
2026 introduced in Lok Sabha by Minister of
State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Jitin
Prasada
Amendment of 784 provisions of 79 Central Acts
administered by 23 Ministries proposed
Bill seeks to decriminalise 717 provisions to promote Ease of
Doing Business, 67 amendments to facilitate Ease of Living
Posted On: 27 MAR 2026 6:38PM by PIB Delhi
The Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada, today introduced the Jan Vishwas
(Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha, following its approval by the Union Cabinet.
The Bill marks a significant milestone in the Government’s efforts to promote Ease of Doing Business and
Ease of Living, while advancing a governance framework based on trust and proportionate regulation.
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
The Bill seeks to rationalise more than 1000 offences, removing outdated and redundant provisions
thereby improving the overall regulatory environment.
The Bill envisages a shift from criminal penalties for minor, technical, or procedural defaults to civil and
administrative enforcement mechanisms. Key measures include:
Replacement of imprisonment provisions with monetary penalties or warnings
Graded enforcement mechanisms, including warnings for first-time contraventions
Rationalization of fines and penalties in proportion to the nature of the offence
To ensure efficient and time-bound enforcement, the Bill provides for:
Appointment of Adjudicating Officers
Establishment of Appellate Authorities
These measures aim to facilitate speedy disposal of cases and reduce litigation burden on courts, while
ensuring adherence to principles of natural justice.
The Bill also proposes 67 amendments under the:New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
These amendments are aimed at simplifying procedures and enhancing citizen convenience in areas such
as municipal taxation and vehicle-related compliance.
Consultative Approach
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.
Additionally, the Select Committee on the Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill, 2025 undertook a
comprehensive consultation process consisting of 49 sittings with committee members, participating
Ministries, external stakeholders, and subject-matter experts.
Trust-Based Governance
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. By reducing the burden of criminal liability and simplifying regulatory processes, the Bill is
expected to enhance compliance, promote investment, and strengthen economic growth.
The present Bill builds upon the reform initiative to decriminalize minor offences. The initiative started
with the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 which decriminalized 183 provisions in 42 Central Acts administered by
19 Ministries/ Departments. Continuing with this, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025
was introduced in Lok Sabha on 18th August 2025. The 2025 Bill proposed amendments to 355 provisions
across 16 Central Acts administered by 10 Ministries/Departments and was referred to a Select
Committee.
The Select Committee, chaired by Shri Tejasvi Surya, held 49 sittings and submitted its report to the Lok
Sabha on 13th March 2026. The Committee undertook extensive consultations and, in addition to the
provisions under consideration, examined further provisions within the same Acts and recommended
decriminalization across 62 additional Central Acts.
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 was thereafter withdrawn and Jan Vishwas
(Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 was introduced in Lok Sabha today.
Conclusion
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 represents a major step towards modernizing
India’s regulatory framework and aligning it with globally accepted principles of proportionate and risk-
based regulation. The Bill is expected to contribute significantly to improving the ease of doing business
and ease of living in the country.
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Abhishek Dayal/Garima Singh
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