The Repealing and Amending Act 2025 clears 71 outdated laws from India’s statute book, modernizing the legal system. This reform improves governance, ensures legal clarity, and aligns India’s laws with current administrative and economic realities.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: India’s legal system, shaped over centuries, carries the weight of numerous laws that have long outlived their relevance. Many statutes enacted during the colonial era or as temporary amendment laws continued to exist on the statute book even after serving their purpose. To address this issue and promote ease of governance, the Government of India, through the Press Information Bureau (PIB), published details of the Repealing and Amending Act, 2025, on January 1, 2026.
This legislation represents a critical step towards statutory clean-up, legal clarity, and modernization of India’s legal framework, ensuring that laws remain aligned with contemporary administrative, judicial, and economic realities.
Repealing and Amending Act, 2025
The Repealing and Amending Act, 2025, as released by the Press Information Bureau of the Government of India, serves as a legislative housekeeping exercise. It removes obsolete and redundant laws while introducing targeted amendments to important statutes. The Act:
- Repeals 71 outdated Central Acts enacted between 1886 and 2023
- Eliminates redundant amendment laws whose objectives have already been achieved
- Updates foundational laws to reflect current administrative and judicial realities
- Preserves legal continuity through a comprehensive Savings Clause
Objectives of the Repealing and Amending Act, 2025
1. Statutory Clean-Up
The Act simplifies India’s statute book by permanently removing laws that are obsolete, redundant, or no longer applicable.
2. Legal Clarity and Uniformity
By harmonising terminology, correcting drafting errors, and removing unnecessary provisions, the Act reduces interpretational ambiguity and improves judicial efficiency.
3. Modernisation of Legal Frameworks
The legislation updates statutory references and aligns laws with current administrative practices, technological advancements, and governance needs.
Features of the Act
Repeal of Obsolete Laws
- 71 Central Acts from 1886 to 2023 have been repealed that had either served their temporary purpose or were superseded by newer legislation
- Includes old acquisition, nationalisation, and amendment Acts with no independent relevance today
Removal of Redundant Amendment Acts
- Amendment laws that had already achieved their objective are removed to avoid duplication and confusion
Amendments to Core Laws
In addition to repeals, the Act makes four key amendments to strengthen essential laws:
General Clauses Act, 1897
Replaces outdated postal terminology, such as “registered post” with “speed post with registration and proof of delivery,” reflecting modern postal services
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
Updates procedural communication references to align with modern India Post services
Indian Succession Act, 1925
Section 213 was removed, eliminating community-based disparities in probate requirements and enhancing fairness and uniformity
Disaster Management Act, 2005
Substitutes the word “prevention” with “preparation”, accurately reflecting the operational role of National Disaster Management Authority
Balanced Legislative Approach: Repeal and Amend
The Act follows a two-fold strategy:
- First Schedule: Lists enactments that are repealed permanently
- Second Schedule: Specifies precise amendments to existing statutes
This approach ensures simplification without disrupting core legal structures.
Savings Clause: Ensuring Legal Continuity
A key strength of the Repealing and Amending Act, 2025, is its comprehensive Savings Clause, which ensures:
- No impact on accrued rights, liabilities, or obligations
- Ongoing legal proceedings remain unaffected
- Existing court jurisdictions, procedures, offices, privileges, and appointments continue uninterrupted
- Repealed laws are not revived unintentionally
This safeguards legal stability while enabling reform.
Importance of the Repealing and Amending Act, 2025
- Reduces judicial and administrative burden
- Improves ease of doing business
- Enhances governance efficiency
- Removes colonial-era and discriminatory provisions
- Strengthens legal certainty and transparency
NOTE:- Since 2014, India has repealed over 1,500 obsolete Central laws, significantly simplifying the legal landscape.
Conclusion
Published by the Press Information Bureau, Government of India, on 1 January 2026, the Repealing and Amending Act, 2025, represents a decisive step towards legal modernisation. By clearing obsolete enactments, refining essential statutes, and preserving continuity through a strong savings framework, the Act transforms India’s statute book into a dynamic, accessible, and future-ready legal instrument, supporting effective governance and economic growth.
READ ATTACHMENT
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Supreme Court
