Jan Vishwas Bill 2026 Clears Lok Sabha, Promises To Keep Citizens Out Of Court For Minor Errors

(MENAFN- Live Mint) The Lok Sabha passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 on Wednesday, marking a significant legislative shift toward decriminalizing minor offences and enhancing the ease of doing business in India.

The Bill, which cleared the lower House by voice vote, proposes sweeping changes to 784 provisions across 79 central Acts administered by 23 separate ministries.

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At the heart of the legislation is a move to decriminalize 717 provisions, replacing potential jail time for minor, technical, or procedural lapses with civil penalties, monetary fines, or formal warnings. In his address to the House, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal emphasized that the reform is designed to foster a culture of trust.

"This Bill highlights the trust the government has in its people," Goyal said.“By doing away with colonial-era laws, we ensure that citizens and businesses no longer have to face courts for the smallest of reasons.”

He further highlighted that the government had brought several reforms to simplify the public delivery system.

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The Bill proposes a shift away from criminal penalties for minor, technical, or procedural defaults, moving instead toward civil and administrative enforcement mechanisms. It includes measures such as replacing imprisonment provisions with monetary penalties or warnings, introducing graded enforcement with warnings for first-time contraventions, and rationalising fines in proportion to the nature of the offence.

Key amendments

To ensure efficient and time-bound enforcement, the Bill provides for the appointment of Adjudicating Officers and the establishment of Appellate Authorities, aimed at enabling quicker resolution of cases, reducing the burden on courts, and upholding principles of natural justice. Additionally, the Bill proposes 67 amendments to the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994, and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, to simplify procedures and improve citizen convenience in areas such as municipal taxation and vehicle-related compliance.

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This 2026 version is a refined successor to the original Jan Vishwas Bill introduced in August 2025. Following a thorough review by a select committee led by Tejasvi Surya, the government withdrew the initial draft and announced plans to incorporate broader reforms and additional laws. The revised Bill, presented on 27 March 2026, reflects those recommendations and aims to eliminate over 1,000 redundant or outdated offences, thereby modernizing India's regulatory landscape.

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