Government Introduces Jan Vishwas Bill 2026 in Lok Sabha: 717 Minor Offences to Be Decriminalised Across 79 Central Laws
Why in News?
On March 27, 2026, the government introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. The bill seeks to amend 79 central acts administered by 23 ministries and proposes to decriminalise 717 minor procedural offences while removing or changing 67 more provisions. This is the second edition of the Jan Vishwas initiative after the 2023 Act. Congress members raised strong objections during introduction, but the government rejected them, saying there is no precedent for sending such bills to a parliamentary committee at this stage.
Key Points
The bill was introduced by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada in the Lok Sabha on March 27, 2026.
It proposes to amend a total of 79 Central Acts that are administered by 23 different ministries.
Out of 784 provisions under review, 717 minor offences of a procedural nature will be decriminalised.
Another 67 provisions are proposed to be removed or changed to make doing business and daily life easier.
Only the most serious offences will continue to attract criminal punishment; minor ones will now attract fines instead of jail.
Congress MPs Kanimozhi and G.K. Padavi opposed the introduction, calling the bill arbitrary and saying it may encourage corruption.
Minister Jitin Prasada rejected the objections, stating there is no precedent for referring the bill to a parliamentary committee at the introduction stage.
The bill aims to improve ease of doing business and ease of living by reducing unnecessary criminal cases against citizens and businesses.
Explained
What Is the Jan Vishwas Bill 2026?
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 is a new law proposed by the central government. Its main aim is to remove criminal punishment for many small and minor offences listed in various old central laws. Instead of sending people to jail for small mistakes, the bill wants to replace jail terms with fines or other lighter penalties. This is being done to make life and business easier for ordinary citizens and companies.
What Is the Background of This Bill?
In 2023, the government had brought the first Jan Vishwas Bill. That law decriminalised 183 minor offences in 42 central acts. The idea was to reduce the fear of criminal cases for small violations and to cut down on unnecessary court cases. Some provisions of a second bill were discussed in 2025 but were later withdrawn. The 2026 bill is the fresh and bigger version of the same effort. It covers far more laws and provisions than before.
How Many Laws and Provisions Does the New Bill Cover?
The bill touches 79 different Central Acts. These acts are looked after by 23 ministries. In total, it looks at 784 provisions (sections or rules) that currently have criminal punishment attached to them. Out of these::
717 provisions will be completely decriminalised (no jail, only fine).
67 provisions will be removed or changed to simplify rules.
This means almost all minor procedural mistakes will no longer be treated as crimes.
Why Is the Government Bringing This Bill?
The government says many old laws still treat small errors as criminal offences. This creates fear among people and businesses, leads to long court cases, and wastes time of police and courts. By removing criminal tags from minor issues, the bill will::
Help ordinary people avoid unnecessary harassment.
Make it easier for businesses to operate without fear of raids or cases for small mistakes.
Reduce the load on India’s courts and jails.
This fits into the bigger goal of “ease of doing business” and “ease of living” for citizens.
What Did the Opposition Say During Introduction?
Two Congress MPs – Kanimozhi and G.K. Padavi – opposed the bill right at the introduction stage. They argued that::
The bill is arbitrary (decisions are not based on proper study).
Removing criminal provisions may encourage corruption and wrongdoing.
They wanted the bill to be sent to a parliamentary committee for detailed discussion before any further steps.
How Did the Government Respond to the Objections?
Minister Jitin Prasada clearly rejected the demand for immediate committee referral. He said::
There is no precedent or rule that requires sending every bill to a committee at the introduction stage.
The bill has been prepared after careful study to exclude only minor offences.
Serious offences related to national security, labour rights, courts, armed forces, etc., will remain untouched.
The minister assured the House that the bill will go through all normal parliamentary steps after introduction.
What Is the Current Stage of the Bill?
The bill has only been introduced in the Lok Sabha. It has not been debated or passed yet. After introduction, it will normally be referred to a standing committee for detailed scrutiny, then come back for discussion and voting. The government has promised that public suggestions and expert views will be considered.
Mains Question
Critically examine the role of decriminalisation of minor offences through initiatives like the Jan Vishwas Bill in promoting ease of doing business and ease of living, while also discussing the potential concerns regarding dilution of accountability and the need to protect public interest.