Context:

• Union Minister Piyush Goyal introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha on 18 August 2025, which had already been approved by the Cabinet.

Key Points:

• This Bill is an important initiative of the Government of India aimed at improving Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business, promoting trust-based governance, and decriminalizing minor offences.
• It is an extension of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023.

Background:

• The Jan Vishwas Bill was first introduced in 2022 and passed by Parliament in 2023.
• The 2023 Act decriminalized 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts from 19 Ministries, replacing imprisonment with penalties or administrative measures for minor offences.

Objectives of the 2025 Bill:

• Decriminalization of minor offences: Around 350 provisions are proposed to be decriminalized. For first-time violations, only a Corrective Notice will be issued instead of punishment.
• Trust-based governance: The government believes that citizens and businesses generally act in good faith, and small mistakes should not attract criminal liability.
• Ease of Living & Doing Business: The Bill seeks to reduce unnecessary legal burdens, improve the investment climate, and ease the load on courts.
• Viksit Bharat 2047 Vision: The Bill is aligned with the government’s vision of a developed India by 2047, focusing on citizen- and business-friendly governance.

Key Provisions:

Decriminalization:

• Over 350 provisions in various Central Acts will be amended.
• Minor infractions will be shifted from criminal offences to administrative penalties or corrective notices.
• Example: Earlier, minor mistakes could lead to imprisonment or heavy fines; now, only a notice or small penalty will be imposed.
• First-offence relief: First-time violators will not face punishment but will get an opportunity to rectify mistakes.

Acts Covered (Illustrative list):

• Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
• Public Debt Act, 1944
• Pharmacy Act, 1948
• Cinematograph Act, 1952
• Copyright Act, 1957
• Patents Act, 1970
• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
• Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
• Railways Act, 1989
• Information Technology Act, 2000
• Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002
• Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

Features and Impacts:

Ease of Doing Business:

• Makes compliance easier for small traders and startups, simplifying business operations.
• Example: Licensing or registration errors will no longer attract harsh penalties but will be rectifiable with fines or notices.

Investment Climate:

• Reduced criminal liability and simpler compliance will boost investor confidence.

Citizen-Centric Governance:

• Protects common citizens from criminal proceedings for minor mistakes, reflecting the principle of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.”

Transparency & Accountability:

• Emphasis on transparent processes for issuing corrective notices and administrative fines, minimizing arbitrariness.

Comparison with Jan Vishwas Act, 2023:

2023 Act:

• Decriminalized 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts.
• Substituted imprisonment with penalties in many cases.
• Covered 19 Ministries and Departments.

2025 Amendment Bill:

• Broader in scope, targeting 350+ provisions.
• Introduces first-offence corrective notice provision.
• Stronger focus on small businesses, startups, and ease of living.
• Expands reforms introduced in 2023 with corrective measures.

Ministries and Process:

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce & Industry, with involvement from Finance, Environment, Road Transport, Posts, and IT ministries.

Legislative Process:

• Introduced in Lok Sabha → may be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee or Standing Committee.
• After recommendations and amendments, it will move to Rajya Sabha for passage.
• A Parliamentary Committee had earlier suggested that States should also be encouraged to decriminalize minor offences.

Major Impacts and Benefits:

Economic Impact:

• Boost to investment, especially startups and MSMEs.
• Reduction in compliance costs and legal risks.
• Improvement in India’s Ease of Doing Business ranking globally.

Social Impact:

• Citizens relieved from jail terms for small mistakes.
• Strengthens public trust in government.
• Promotes a correction-oriented system instead of punitive governance.

Judicial Impact:

• Reduction in pendency of minor cases in courts.
• Faster resolution through administrative processes.