Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 introduced in Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada

1. At a Glance

• Omnibus decriminalisation legislation introduced in Lok Sabha on 27 March 2026 by MoS Commerce & Industry Shri Jitin Prasada following Union Cabinet approval [1][3].
• Proposes amendment of 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries, of which 717 provisions are decriminalised and 67 amended for Ease of Living [1][3].
• Successor to the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 (which touched 183 provisions in 42 Acts under 19 Ministries) — represents ~4x scale-up of the trust-based regulation framework [2][5].
• Embodies the governance philosophy of "trust-based governance" + proportionate regulation, advancing Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living [1][3].

2. Why in the News

• 27 March 2026: Bill introduced in Lok Sabha after Cabinet clearance [1].
• April 2026: Bill passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha; PM hailed its passage [3][4].
• Health-sector amendments highlighted separately by PIB for rationalising compliance under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and allied health laws [3].

3. Background & Evolution

• 2014–2022: Government repeals/amends ~1,500 obsolete laws; decriminalisation of business law emerges as a reform pillar.
• 22 December 2022: First Jan Vishwas Bill introduced in Lok Sabha [2][5].
• Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 (Act No. 18 of 2023): Passed Lok Sabha 27 June 2023, Rajya Sabha 2 August 2023; decriminalised 183 provisions in 42 Acts across 19 Ministries [2][5].
• 2025: A Jan Vishwas 2.0 (2025) version was introduced earlier [4].
• 2026: Present Bill expanded in coverage to 784 provisions / 79 Acts / 23 Ministries [1].

4. Core Static Facts

Decriminalisation toolkit (carried from 2023 Act) [2]:

• Remove both imprisonment and fine.
• Remove imprisonment, retain/enhance fine.
• Convert imprisonment + fine into civil penalty.
• Introduce compounding of offences.
• Add adjudicating officers and appellate authorities.

Key enforcement principles in 2026 Bill [3]:

• Warning before Punishment for first-time/minor lapses.
• Proportionate Penalties linked to gravity.
• Periodic revision of penalty quantum (carried from §3 of 2023 Act — 10% hike every 3 years).

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic / Ease of Doing Business

• Removes criminal liability for minor, technical, procedural defaults, lowering compliance risk premium for MSMEs and startups [3].
• Reduces docket burden on subordinate criminal courts; frees judicial bandwidth.
• Signals to investors a shift from a regulator-as-prosecutor to a regulator-as-facilitator stance.

Legal / Constitutional

• Uses Parliament's Article 245 / 246 power across Union List entries to amend 79 statutes via single omnibus law.
• Maintains criminal liability for offences harming public health, safety, environment — preserving regulatory deterrence [3].
• Introduces statutory adjudicating officer mechanism, expanding administrative-law adjudication.

Administrative / Governance

• Touches 23 Ministries — necessitates inter-ministerial coordination for rule-making and notification of adjudicating officers.
• Builds on the "minimum government, maximum governance" doctrine; complements Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita rationalisation.

Social — Ease of Living

• 67 amendments specifically for citizen convenience (e.g., licensing, registration, certification) [1][3].
• Health-sector reforms in Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, Pharmacy Act 1948, FSS Act 2006, Clinical Establishments Act 2010, NCAHP Act 2021 [3].

Ethical / Trust-Based Regulation

• Operationalises Jan Vishwas (people's trust) — shifts presumption from suspicion to compliance.
• Risk: dilution of deterrence if penalty quantum is not periodically revised.

6. Recent Developments (12–18 months)

• 2025: Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill, 2025 introduced in Lok Sabha (earlier iteration) [4].
• 27 March 2026: 2026 Bill introduced in Lok Sabha [1].
• April 2026: Bill passed by both Houses of Parliament; PM statement issued [3][4].
• PIB thematic note on health-sector decriminalisation under the Bill [3].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Jan Vishwas Bill 2026 introduced on 27 March 2026 by MoS Jitin Prasada [1].
• Bill amends 784 provisions in 79 Central Acts across 23 Ministries [1].
• 717 provisions decriminalised; 67 amended for Ease of Living [1].
• Nodal ministry: Commerce & Industry (DPIIT) — not Law & Justice [1].
• Predecessor Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 is Act No. 18 of 2023 [5].
• 2023 Act covered 183 provisions / 42 Acts / 19 Ministries [2].
• 2023 Act passed Rajya Sabha on 2 August 2023 [2].
• 2023 Act mandated 10% increase in fine/penalty every 3 years.
• 2026 Bill introduces adjudicating officers + appellate authorities for swift resolution [3].
• Health-sector Acts touched include Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Pharmacy Act, 1948 [3].
• Reform principle: "Warning before Punishment" for first-time defaults [3].
• Bill seeks to rationalise over 1,000 offences overall [3].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS Paper II — Government policies and interventions; Parliament & legislative processes; Statutory bodies.
• GS Paper III — Indian Economy: Ease of Doing Business, regulatory reforms, MSMEs.

Question stems:

1. "Decriminalisation of minor economic offences is a pre-requisite for genuine Ease of Doing Business." Discuss in light of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026. (15M)
2. Examine how the Jan Vishwas framework operationalises 'trust-based governance'. What are its limitations? (10M)
3. Compare the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 with the Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026 in terms of scope, depth and enforcement design. (15M)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 — direct predecessor.
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — parallel criminal law overhaul.
• DPIIT & Ease of Doing Business rankings — policy context.
• Repealing and Amending Acts (2015–2023) — broader legal rationalisation drive.
• Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020 — earlier decriminalisation of corporate offences.
• Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 — economic offences architecture.
• Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) — 2nd ARC recommendation.
• MSME compliance burden / Udyam portal — beneficiaries of the Bill.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Wrong nodal ministry: it is Commerce & Industry (DPIIT), NOT Law & Justice or MCA.
• Confusing 2023 vs 2026 numbers: 2023 = 183/42/19; 2026 = 784/79/23.
• "All offences decriminalised" is wrong — offences against health, safety, environment retained.
• Introducing Minister: MoS Jitin Prasada, not the Cabinet Minister Piyush Goyal.
• Not a Money Bill — it is an ordinary Bill under Article 107.