Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026

Source: The post “Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026” has been created, based on “Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026” published in “PIB” on  06th April 2026.

UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Governance

Context: The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 is a continuation of India’s efforts to modernise its regulatory framework by reducing criminalisation of minor procedural lapses. It proposes amendments in 79 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries, covering 784 provisions, including 717 for decriminalisation and 67 for improving ease of living. The Bill replaces criminal penalties for minor offences with civil penalties, warnings, or administrative mechanisms, making the legal system more practical, citizen-friendly, and balanced. This reform builds upon the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023, expanding the scope of decriminalisation based on recommendations from a Parliamentary Select Committee.

Objectives of the Bill

1. The Bill aims to reduce excessive criminalisation, focusing on compliance rather than punishment.
2. It seeks to simplify regulatory processes, ensuring that minor lapses do not lead to disproportionate legal consequences.
3. It introduces a trust-based, proportionate enforcement mechanism for both citizens and businesses.

Pillars of the Bill

1. Warning before Punishment: First-time and minor lapses are addressed through advisory notices or warnings before penalties.
2. Proportionate Penalties: Penalties are graded based on the severity of the offence, ensuring fairness and avoiding unnecessary criminalisation.
3. Faster and Fair Resolution: Dedicated adjudicating officers and appellate authorities provide swift dispute resolution while reducing court burdens.
4. Dynamic Penalty Framework: Penalties are periodically revised to ensure they remain relevant, effective, and responsive.

Citizen-Centric Reforms

1. Minor everyday lapses now attract civil penalties instead of criminal fines, making the legal system simpler and fairer.
2. Examples include:

• Railways Act, 1989: Refusing to vacate a reserved berth attracts a civil penalty of ₹1,000.
• Clinical Establishments Act, 2010: Minor deficiencies attract civil penalties up to ₹10,000.
• Calcutta Metro Railway Act, 1985: Smoking violations attract civil penalties of ₹2,000.

1. Ease of Living Provisions:

• Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: Drivers get a 30-day grace period after licence expiry.
• NDMC Property Tax: Standardises taxation using the Unit Area Method.
• Accident Compensation: Victims can approach the Claims Tribunal 12 months beyond the deadline if sufficient cause exists.
• Delhi Police Act, 1978: Being outdoors at night no longer attracts criminal liability.
• Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: Ticketing violations are now administrative with civil penalties up to ₹500.

Ease of Doing Business Provisions

1. The Bill introduces graded enforcement mechanisms for businesses to correct minor lapses before facing penalties.
2. Examples include:
   • Tea Act, 1953: First-time procedural lapses get warnings; penalties apply only to repeated offences.
   • Copyright Act, 1957: False entries in the Register of Copyrights no longer attract imprisonment.
3. MSME Benefits:
   • Legal Metrology Act, 2009: First-time lapses trigger improvement notices, not penalties.
   • Private Security Agencies Act, 2005: Criminal fines for minor procedural lapses removed.
   • Delivery of Books and Newspapers Act: Warnings introduced for delayed submissions.
4. Export and trade sectors also benefit, e.g., the APEDA Act, 1985, where minor procedural lapses now follow a warning-and-penalty framework.
5. Outdated provisions like licensing under the Coir Industry Act, 1953 have been removed to reduce compliance burdens for small businesses.

Key Legislative Changes

1. Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940: Imprisonment replaced with civil penalties for procedural lapses.
2. Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957: Minor civic offences converted to civil penalties; outdated provisions removed.
3. Apprentices Act, 1961: Introduces a three-stage enforcement mechanism—advisory notice, warning, and monetary penalty.
4. Other amended laws include the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985, the Road Transport Corporations Act, 1950, and the MMDR Act, 1957, replacing imprisonment with civil penalties or removing minor offences entirely.

Benefits of the Bill

1. Reduces unnecessary criminalisation for citizens and businesses.
2. Promotes predictable, proportionate, and trust-based enforcement.
3. Improves ease of living by ensuring minor lapses do not lead to criminal proceedings.
4. Enhances ease of doing business by allowing MSMEs and enterprises to correct procedural errors before penalties.
5. Encourages voluntary compliance while maintaining strict enforcement for serious offences.

Way Forward

1. The government should ensure the effective implementation of graded enforcement mechanisms across all ministries and sectors.
2. Continuous awareness campaigns are needed to educate citizens and businesses about civil penalties and compliance requirements.
3. Periodic review of penalties should ensure they remain relevant and proportionate to the severity of offences.
4. Integration with digital compliance platforms can simplify reporting and reduce administrative delays.
5. Monitoring mechanisms should assess the impact on ease of living and ease of doing business, ensuring reforms achieve their intended outcomes.

Conclusion: The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, modernises India’s legal framework by removing criminal penalties for minor procedural lapses. By introducing graded enforcement mechanisms, civil penalties, and warnings, the Bill ensures a balanced and trust-based regulatory environment. The reforms improve both ease of living and ease of doing business, while serious offences continue to attract appropriate penalties. Overall, the Bill promotes a predictable, fair, and citizen-friendly legal system, encouraging compliance over punishment.

Question: Examine the key features and objectives of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026. How does it contribute to ease of living and ease of doing business in India?’

Source: PIB