Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, introduced in Lok Sabha

New Delhi, Aug 18: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha, expanding the government’s ongoing reforms to improve ease of doing business and ease of living.

The Bill, earlier cleared by the Union Cabinet, has been referred to the Speaker for consideration by a Select Committee, which will submit its report by the opening day of the next session. The legislation builds on the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 — the first consolidated law that systematically decriminalised minor offences across central statutes. The 2025 Bill widens the scope of reform by proposing amendments to 355 provisions across 16 Central Acts administered by 10 ministries and departments. Of these, 288 provisions will be decriminalised to reduce compliance burdens for businesses, while 67 are aimed at simplifying regulations for citizens.

Among its key provisions, the Bill proposes that first-time contraventions in 76 cases be met with an advisory or warning instead of prosecution.

It also replaces imprisonment clauses for minor, technical or procedural defaults with monetary penalties, introduces graded penalties for repeat offences, and empowers designated officers to impose penalties through administrative processes, thereby easing the burden on courts. Penalties will also be automatically revised upward by 10% every three years to maintain deterrence without requiring new legislation.

The Bill further proposes amendments to the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994, and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, alongside additional reforms in the Tea Act, 1953, the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which were partially decriminalised under the 2023 law. Seen as a major milestone in regulatory reform, the legislation reflects the government’s push for “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” and is expected to enhance investor confidence, reduce compliance costs, and promote sustainable economic growth.