Lok Sabha today passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026. The legislation amends certain enactments for decriminalising and rationalising offences to further enhance trust-based governance for ease of living and doing business. The bill will decriminalise minor offences and implement measures such as revising fines and penalties proportionate to the offence. It proposes to amend 79 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries. A total of 784 provisions are being proposed to be amended, out of which 717 provisions are being decriminalised to foster ease of doing business, and 67 provisions are being proposed to facilitate ease of living.
Replying to the discussion on the Bill, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said this Bill highlights the trust and belief that the Narendra Modi government has in the people. He said cases are registered for the smallest reasons, and this Bill has provisions to provide justice rather than punishment. Mr Goyal stated that the Bill does away with old laws brought by the British to rule over Indians. He said, ‘Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in simplifying rules and bringing Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living. He said that now, people will not have to go to courts for the smallest of things. The Minister highlighted that the Centre has brought several reforms to simplify the public delivery system.
Initiating the discussion, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy of Congress said, ‘This Bill claims to decriminalise multiple laws, but in reality, it will increase corruption.’ He said that the bill does not strengthen public trust and fails to address deeper structural issues. Mr Reddy said that diluting criminal penalties will not improve the ease of doing business. He claimed that the Bill removes imprisonment for those manufacturing and selling fake medicines and fraudulent cosmetics.
Tejasvi Surya of the BJP said this bill will improve both ease of doing business and ease of living. He lauded the government, saying it has brought forward the largest decriminalisation exercise in independent India’s history. Mr Surya said that, with this single piece of legislation, the government is decriminalising over one thousand minor offences. He said, ” This is not just a reform but a model for the rest of the world to follow.’ Mr Surya added that the Jan Vishwas Bill is not merely about numbers, but it reflects a fundamental philosophical shift from distrust to trust and a regulator to a facilitator, which is the foundation of building a Vikshit Bharat.
Devesh Chandra Thakur of JDU said the Bill will inspire people not to commit any offence. He said, ” It has come as a relief to many people, and it will also curb corruption. Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Arvind Ganpat Sawant said the government should also bring initiatives for the undertrials in Indian jails. NK Premachandran of RSP, Hanuman Beniwal of RLP, and Priya Saroj of the Samajwadi Party also participated in the debate. Later, the House was adjourned for the day after concluding today’s business.
