Lok Sabha Passes Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill

Lok Sabha has passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, aimed at decriminalising minor offences and rationalising penalties across several Central laws. The Bill is designed to strengthen trust-based governance and improve ease of living and doing business by replacing criminal punishment for low-risk violations with proportionate fines and penalties.

Key Features of the Bill

• The Bill seeks to amend 79 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries.
• A total of 784 provisions are proposed for amendment.
• Out of these, 717 provisions will be decriminalised.
• Another 67 provisions are intended to improve ease of living.
• The changes include revising fines and penalties in line with the nature of the offence.

Purpose and Policy Approach

The legislation is part of the broader Jan Vishwas framework, which seeks to reduce unnecessary criminalisation in governance. It aims to shift the regulatory approach from punishment to compliance and facilitation. The government has presented the Bill as a step towards reducing court burden, simplifying rules, and removing archaic colonial-era provisions that continue to affect citizens and businesses.

Debate in the Lok Sabha

• Supporters said the Bill will promote ease of doing business and ease of living.
• They described it as a major decriminalisation exercise in independent India.
• Some members argued that weakening criminal penalties may increase corruption.
• Concerns were also raised about public safety and accountability in sectors such as medicines and cosmetics.
• Several members called for wider reforms in prisons and justice delivery.

Exam Relevance and Governance Significance

The Bill is important for understanding regulatory reform, criminal law rationalisation, and the shift towards trust-based governance. It also reflects the government’s emphasis on administrative simplification, business-friendly regulation, and reducing litigation over minor procedural offences. The measure is likely to be relevant for questions on legislative reforms, ease of doing business, and governance models in India.