Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill 2026 Tabled In Lok Sabha, Proposes Amendments To 784 Provisions New Delhi, Mar 28 (KNN) Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada on Friday introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha, following approval by the Union Cabinet. The proposed legislation is positioned as a key reform aimed at improving ease of doing business and ease of living, while promoting a governance model based on trust and proportionate regulation. Wide-Ranging Decriminalisation Measures The Bill proposes amendments to 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries. Of these, 717 provisions are set to be decriminalised to reduce compliance burden on businesses, while 67 amendments are aimed at improving citizen-centric processes. Overall, the Bill seeks to rationalise more than 1,000 offences by removing outdated and redundant provisions, thereby streamlining the regulatory framework. A key feature is the shift away from criminal penalties for minor, technical or procedural defaults. Instead, the Bill proposes replacing imprisonment with monetary penalties or warnings, introducing graded enforcement mechanisms for first-time violations, and aligning penalties with the severity of offences. Faster Dispute Resolution To ensure efficient enforcement, the Bill provides for the appointment of adjudicating officers and the creation of appellate authorities. These measures are expected to enable quicker resolution of cases, reduce litigation burden on courts, and uphold principles of natural justice. Changes in Key Laws The Bill also includes amendments to laws such as the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994 and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. These changes are intended to simplify procedures related to municipal taxation and vehicle compliance, improving convenience for citizens. Consultative Approach Behind Reforms Officials said the proposed amendments are based on an extensive consultative process involving inter-ministerial discussions, high-level deliberations under NITI Aayog, and inputs from industry bodies and civil society groups. The earlier version of the Bill, introduced in 2025, was examined by a Select Committee chaired by Tejasvi Surya, which held 49 sittings and submitted its report earlier this month. The committee also recommended further decriminalisation across additional Central Acts, leading to a broader scope in the revised 2026 Bill. Continuation of Reform Agenda The current Bill builds on the earlier Jan Vishwas Act, 2023, which decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts. The 2025 amendment Bill was subsequently withdrawn to incorporate wider recommendations. The government said the 2026 Bill represents a significant step towards modernising India’s regulatory system by aligning it with global best practices of risk-based and proportionate regulation. (KNN Bureau)
March 28, 2026