Govt introduces 2nd edition of Jan Vishwas Bill in Lok Sabha – The Tribune

Prasada said the Bill would 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. He further clarified that no major violations or serious offences were being diluted by the amendment Bill.

The new Bill builds on the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, which had amended 42 laws with similar objectives. It proposes amendments to various laws and aims to decriminalise a range of offences across sectors such as municipal governance, motor vehicle regulation, commodity boards, apprenticeships, and export-related activities.

The Bill proposes to remove imprisonment in 57 provisions and fines in 158 provisions. Also, imprisonment is proposed to be reduced in 17 provisions, and imprisonment and fine are proposed to be converted to a penalty in 113 provisions. The Bill converts several fines into penalties, and designates adjudicating officers to levy these penalties.

Opposition members from the Congress, K Kavya and GK Padavi, opposed the introduction of the Bill, contending that it infringes upon the basic structure of the Constitution. Padavi urged the government to refer the Bill again to a select committee or a joint parliamentary committee.

Responding to the objections, Prasada said extensive consultations had been undertaken, and maintained that the Bill only seeks to decriminalise minor offences.

The Bill was earlier withdrawn from the Lok Sabha on March 17 for reintroduction after incorporating the select committee’s recommendations.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had introduced a version, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha last year, which was subsequently referred to a select committee.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the 2022 Bill had recommended that the government continue this exercise by reviewing other central laws and introducing similar legislation in future.