India's Regulatory Reform Milestone: New Bill Seeks Decriminalisation of Minor Offences

The Indian government introduced a new bill in the Lok Sabha to decriminalise 288 minor offences under various laws, aiming to ease living and improve the business climate. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2025 proposes to relax provisions in multiple Acts and enhance trust-based governance.

The Indian government unveiled a new bill on Monday in the Lok Sabha, targeting the decriminalisation of 288 provisions related to minor offences across various laws. This move aims to promote ease of living and enhance the business climate.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2025, describing it as a step toward fostering trust-based governance and business efficiency. The Bill, now under review by the Lok Sabha's Select Committee, is expected to return with feedback by the next Parliament session.

The proposed legislation intends to replace imprisonment for minor infractions with monetary penalties and introduces a structured method for determining fines. This reform extends to numerous central Acts across a range of ministries and includes measures like streamlining vehicle registration processes and modernizing property tax systems under the NDMC Act.

(With inputs from agencies.)