New Delhi: The Centre has introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha as part of its continuing effort to reduce criminal penalties for minor violations and simplify regulatory compliance.
The government says the objective of the bill is to replace criminal punishment for small procedural offences with financial penalties in order to improve the business environment and reduce legal pressure on individuals and companies.
The Bill was introduced by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada after incorporating recommendations made by a parliamentary select committee.
What the Bill proposes
According to the government, the Bill proposes amendments to 79 Central laws administered by 23 ministries. In total, 784 provisions are proposed to be modified.
Out of these, about 717 provisions relate to decriminalisation of minor offences connected to business compliance, while 67 provisions relate to easing compliance requirements affecting citizens.
The proposed changes mainly involve replacing imprisonment clauses for minor procedural lapses with monetary penalties and introducing mechanisms such as appellate authorities for grievance redressal.
Government representatives said such steps are intended to promote trust-based governance instead of a punishment-driven compliance system.
Government’s argument
Introducing the Bill, Jitin Prasada told the House that the changes relate only to minor offences and not serious violations. He said the intention is to improve ease of doing business while also improving ease of living by simplifying regulatory processes.
The government also said consultations had been held before bringing the revised version of the Bill and that recommendations of the select committee had been incorporated.
The proposed legislation follows earlier efforts by the government to reduce criminal provisions in business-related laws. The Jan Vishwas Act of 2023 had similarly removed criminal penalties from several minor provisions across different laws.
Concerns raised by opposition
Some opposition members opposed the introduction of the Bill, raising concerns about possible misuse.
Congress members K. Kavya and G.K. Padavi questioned the proposal, arguing that some provisions required closer examination. Padavi said the Bill should be reconsidered by a parliamentary committee and expressed concern that excessive relaxation could lead to administrative misuse.
He also pointed to a dissent note submitted during the select committee review.
Why the Bill matters
Policy experts often say that excessive criminal provisions in regulatory laws can discourage entrepreneurship and increase litigation over minor technical violations.
At the same time, legal experts also point out that safeguards are necessary to ensure that decriminalisation does not weaken enforcement in serious violations.
The Bill is part of a broader policy trend aimed at reducing compliance burden while retaining penalties for serious violations.
The final impact of the proposed changes will depend on how the amendments are implemented and how effectively enforcement agencies balance compliance with accountability.
