Discuss how decriminalisation of economic offences via the Jan Vishwas framework has reshaped India's regulatory environment.

Q. Discuss how decriminalisation of economic offences via the Jan Vishwas framework has reshaped India's regulatory environment. (15 marks, 250 words)

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) framework replaces imprisonment for minor, technical and procedural defaults with graded monetary penalties, marking a shift from a fear-based to a trust-based regulatory philosophy aimed at Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living [1].

From criminalisation to trust-based governance - The Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts; the 2026 Bill deepens this—amending 784 provisions in 79 Acts under 23 Ministries and decriminalising 717 [2]. - It institutionalises Adjudicating Officers and Appellate Authorities, moving penalties out of courts and easing judicial burden [2].

Reshaping the investment and compliance climate - Over 47,000 compliances reduced (simplified, digitised, decriminalised) lowers the cost and risk of doing business [3]. - Signals policy certainty to investors—FDI touched USD 748.38 billion (2014–25), a 143% rise—and strengthens India's readiness for the World Bank B-READY 2026 assessment [3][1].

Calibrated, not blanket, liberalisation - Strict penal action is retained for serious public-health and safety violations, preserving deterrence where public interest demands [2]. - Limits persist: numerous State-level laws remain untouched, and gains depend on building adjudication capacity and avoiding penalty inflation.

By decriminalising procedural lapses while safeguarding genuine public interest, the Jan Vishwas framework has recast India's regulatory environment around trust, proportionality and predictability. Extending it to State statutes and ensuring robust adjudication would consolidate a business climate aligned with cooperative federalism and the goal of a Viksit Bharat.

(~250 words)

Sources: 1. India's Ease of Doing Business Performance Strengthened; World Bank B-READY Assessment Scheduled in 2026, PIB (2026) — trust-based reform philosophy; B-READY 2026 readiness 2. Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, PIB; The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, PRS Legislative Research — 2023 vs 2026 scope, graded penalties, adjudicating authorities, retained safety offences 3. Ease of Doing Business: India's Ongoing Regulatory Transformation, PIB — 47,000+ compliances reduced; FDI USD 748.38 bn (2014–25)