The Union government introduced the Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha to amend 784 provisions across 79 central laws. It proposes decriminalising 717 provisions and says fear of imprisonment for minor offences is hindering business growth.
The Union government introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha, proposing changes to 784 provisions across 79 central laws overseen by 23 ministries.
The draft seeks to decriminalise 717 provisions and introduces 67 amendments intended to improve ease of living. It builds on prior reform efforts under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 and the 2025 Bill.
According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill,
“A web of outdated rules and regulations causes trust deficit. It has been the endeavour of the Government to achieve the principle of “Minimum Government Maximum Governance, redefining the regulatory landscape of the country under the Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business reforms”
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It further added,
“The fear of imprisonment for minor offences is a major factor hampering the growth of the business ecosystem and individual confidence. Decriminalisation of large number of minor offences by replacing them with monetary penalties have been identified as a measure that not only makes lives and businesses easier but also to reduce judicial burden.”
A central element of the Bill is the shift from criminal prosecution toward administrative enforcement. Many provisions that previously imposed punishment “on conviction before a Magistrate” including imprisonment or fines would instead make a person found in default and subject to monetary penalties assessed through an adjudicatory process.
This approach is evident in the proposed change to the Cattle Trespass Act, 1871. Under the current law, allowing cattle to stray and damage land, crops or public roads could trigger criminal proceedings.
The Bill would replace this with an adjudication mechanism under which an executive magistrate can determine liability and impose a penalty of up to Rs.5,000.
Several other colonial-era statutes are also affected. The Works of Defence Act, 1903 which restricts land use and activities near defence installations would see non-violent obstruction or interference dealt with by financial penalties, while acts involving force or threats would remain criminal offences.
Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, certain breaches that previously carried prison terms would be converted into monetary penalties, with some fines linked to the value of confiscated goods.
The Pharmacy Act, 1948 which governs pharmacists and professional registers would replace very small nominal fines (some as low as Rs.50) with larger penalties and additional daily fines for ongoing breaches.
The Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1948 would introduce graded penalties, increasing fines for repeat violations compared with first-time offences. A similar pattern appears in other older laws such as the Court Fees Act, 1870, where non-fraudulent infractions would be shifted out of the criminal realm into a penalty-based regime.
The reform exercise also touches more recent statutes. The Bill proposes amendments to the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994 to simplify matters such as municipal taxation and related procedures part of the 67 changes described as promoting ease of living, distinct from the decriminalisation measures.
Proposed modifications to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 likewise aim to streamline compliance and procedural requirements for vehicle regulation.