Jan Vishwas 3.0: New Bill seeks to decriminalise 717 offences across 79 laws

The Union government has introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha, proposing to amend 784 provisions across 79 Central laws administered by 23 Ministries.

The Bill seeks to decriminalise 717 provisions, while introducing 67 amendments aimed at improving ease of living. It builds on earlier exercises under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 and the 2025 Bill.

According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill,

"A web of outdated rules and regulations causes trust deficit. It has been the endeavour of the Government to achieve the principle of “Minimum Government Maximum Governance”, redefining the regulatory landscape of the country under the Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business reforms...

...The fear of imprisonment for minor offences is a major factor hampering the growth of the business ecosystem and individual confidence. Decriminalisation of large number of minor offences by replacing them with monetary penalties have been identified as a measure that not only makes lives and businesses easier but also to reduce judicial burden."

A key feature of the Bill is the shift from criminal prosecution to administrative enforcement. Across several enactments, provisions that earlier prescribed punishment “on conviction before a Magistrate” with imprisonment or fine have been replaced with a framework where a person may be “found in default” and made liable to pay a penalty.

This change is reflected in the proposed amendments to the Cattle Trespass Act, 1871, one of the oldest laws being modified. Under the existing framework, allowing cattle to trespass and cause damage to land, crops or public roads could result in criminal proceedings. The Bill replaces this with an adjudication mechanism, under which an executive magistrate determines liability and imposes a monetary penalty of up to ₹5,000.

A few other interesting colonial laws also feature in the bill.

For instance, the Works of Defence Act, 1903 governs restrictions on land and activities near defence installations to safeguard military works. The Bill proposes that non-violent obstruction or interference with such works be dealt with through monetary penalties, while conduct involving the use or threat of force continues to attract criminal consequences.

The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 regulates the manufacture, sale and quality of drugs and cosmetics. Under the Bill, certain violations that earlier attracted imprisonment are converted into financial penalties, including amounts linked to the value of confiscated goods.

Similarly, the Pharmacy Act, 1948 deals with the regulation of pharmacists and maintenance of professional registers. The Bill updates its penalty framework by replacing nominal fines - some as low as ₹50 - with higher monetary penalties and additional daily penalties for continuing violations.

The Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1948 governs employment and working conditions of dock workers at ports. The Bill introduces graded penalties for contraventions, prescribing higher amounts for repeat violations compared to first-time breaches.

A similar approach is seen in other colonial-era statutes such as the Court Fees Act, 1870, where non-fraudulent violations are moved out of the criminal framework and into a penalty-based regime.

The exercise also extends to more recent laws. For instance, the Bill proposes amendments to the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994, aimed at changes in areas such as municipal taxation and related procedures.

According to the Bill, these amendments seek to simplify compliance requirements and address procedural aspects of municipal administration. They are part of the set of 67 provisions identified as facilitating “ease of living,” as distinct from the decriminalisation-focused amendments.

The Bill also proposes changes to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which are similarly framed as measures to streamline compliance and procedural requirements in vehicle-related regulation.

[Read Bill]