Parliament Passes Landmark Bill to Decriminalise Minor Offences

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, aims to decriminalise 784 provisions in 79 central laws to improve the business environment and reduce harassment. It replaces several imprisonment clauses with fines or warnings and simplifies procedures across various acts, benefiting citizens and MSMEs.

On Thursday, Parliament passed a pivotal Bill aimed at amending 784 provisions in 79 central laws to decriminalise and streamline minor offences. Known as the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, it was approved by the Rajya Sabha following Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal's response to the discussion. The Lok Sabha passed the Bill earlier.

Minister Goyal emphasized that the legislation is designed to alleviate fears among citizens and businesses, particularly MSMEs, who make minor errors. He highlighted that comprehensive consultations preceded the Bill's drafting, involving various government bodies to ensure balanced amendments. The Bill seeks to remove imprisonment in numerous provisions, converting them into fines or penalties and ensuring proportional penalties.

The Bill also proposes significant amendments to acts such as the Motor Vehicles Act and the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, aiming to ease compliance. Notably, changes to the Motor Vehicles Act include relaxations in vehicle registration and driving license renewals. Additionally, the legislation addresses various acts, including RBI, Insurance, and Drugs and Cosmetics, focusing on rationalising processes and decriminalising minor offences.

(With inputs from agencies.)