The Government of India introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha on August 18, 2025 and requested the speaker that it be referred to a select committee for detailed examination and review. This marks another milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to reform the regulatory landscape of the country.
This bill seeks to build upon the foundation laid by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 by expanding the scope and depth of decriminalisation across several central acts. Through this legislative move, the government aims to promote ease of compliance, reduce fear of prosecution for minor infractions, and ultimately improve the overall Ease of Living (EoL) for citizens and businesses alike.
A select committee is an ad hoc or temporary parliamentary body constituted to examine and scrutinise a particular bill. Its membership is drawn only from the House in which the bill has been introduced (in this case, the Lok Sabha), and it stands dissolved once its assigned task is completed. Despite being temporary, its functioning is governed by clearly defined rules under the Rules of Procedure of Parliament. The committee examines the bill clause by clause, seeks inputs from stakeholders and experts, and submits a detailed report to the House, which is then debated and voted upon with or without amendments.
In contrast, when such committee draws members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, it is designated as a joint parliamentary committee (JPC).
Background
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 was a pioneering legislation introduced to revamp penal provisions in various laws, particularly those governing economic and administrative affairs. Notified on August 11, 2023, the act decriminalised 183 provisions spread across 42 central acts. These acts were administered by 19 different ministries or departments, indicating a wide-ranging effort to rationalise penal provisions and reduce the burden of litigation and imprisonment for minor or technical violations.
Scope of the 2025 Jan Vishwas Bill
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 proposes amendments to 355 provisions across 16 central acts administered by 10 ministries/departments, reflecting a significant expansion in scope, compared to the 2023 act.
These acts include, among others, the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988; the Legal Metrology Act, 2009; the Apprentices Act, 1961; the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994 (NDMC Act); the Tea Act, 1953; and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Out of these 355 provisions:
- 288 provisions have been proposed to be decriminalised to foster Ease of Doing Business; and
- 67 provisions are proposed to be amended specifically to facilitate EoL.
This comprehensive amendment strategy illustrates the government’s commitment to reducing the criminalisation of minor infractions and promoting a citizen-centric and business-friendly regulatory environment.
Some Key Features of the Bill
The proposed amendments introduced through this bill are characterised by several important features that reflect a practical approach towards governance and regulation:
Advisory or Warning for First-Time Contraventions One of the central features of the bill is the proposal that first-time contraventions should attract only an advisory or a warning. This provision would apply to 76 offences spread across 10 acts.
By limiting penal action in the case of initial violations, the bill aims to encourage voluntary compliance and provide individuals and businesses with an opportunity to correct mistakes without facing immediate criminal consequences. This marks a significant shift in how the legal system treats minor defaults, placing trust in the intentions of citizens and entrepreneurs to comply with the law.
Replacement of Imprisonment Clauses with Monetary Penalties or Warnings The bill further proposes that clauses involving imprisonment for minor, technical or procedural defaults be replaced with monetary penalties or warnings. This move is intended to ensure that punishment is proportional to the nature and gravity of the offence.
Minor defaults, especially those that are procedural or technical in nature, often do not warrant criminal sanctions. By removing imprisonment clauses in such cases, the bill reduces the risk of excessive legal penalties and brings the legal framework in line with the principles of proportionality and fairness.
Examples include:
- Under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, wilfully stamping weights and measures in contravention of the law—earlier punishable with imprisonment—will now attract only a fine.
- Under the Electricity Act, 2003, non-compliance with certain orders or directions—previously punishable with imprisonment up to three months—will now carry only monetary penalties.
- Under the Motor vehicles Act, 1988, driving by a person mentally or physically unfit to drive is shifted to fine-only provisions.
Other Specific Changes and Simplification
- Under the Central Silk Board Act, 1948, furnishing false information or obstructing an officer—earlier punishable with imprisonment and/fine—is proposed to be replaced by warnings (for first offence) and monetary penalties for subsequent offences.
- Under the Apprentices Act, 1961, offences like asking an apprentice to work overtime without approval of the Apprenticeship Adviser—currently punishable by fine—will attract warning instead.
- Under the Motor Vehicles Act, the bill proposes relaxation such as: state-wide registration instead of jurisdiction-specific registration; renewal of driving licence effective from the date of renewal even if applied after expiry (a grace period of 30 days after licence expiry); and claims tribunals empowered to condone delays in filing up to 12 months.
Graduated Penalty System Another key feature of the bill is the introduction of a graduated system of penalties. Instead of imposing a uniform penalty regardless of the frequency of the offence, the bill proposes a structure where penalties increase gradually for repeated offences.
Revision of Fines and Penalties The bill provides that fines and penalties will increase by 10 per cent of the respective minimum amount every three years from the date of commencement of the act, automatically. This is intended to maintain deterrence without requiring repeated legislative amendments.
Improvement Notices For certain offences under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, the bill introduces improvement notices, where first-time violations can be rectified within a specified time period before penalties are imposed. Subsequent offences will attract fines.
Adjudication and Appeals The bill amends certain acts to provide for the appointment of adjudicating officers to hold inquiries and adjudicate penalties. It also empowers appellate authorities to hear appeals against decisions of adjudicating officers. This is intended to reduce the burden on courts and enable quicker administrative resolution of minor infractions.
Objectives of the Bill
This bill aligns with the broader objectives of regulatory reform and governance modernisation. Its goals are in the context of the following guiding principles:
Promoting Ease of Living By reducing the criminal burden on minor and technical violations, the bill seeks to improve the overall EoL for individuals. Citizens often face undue stress and hardship from over-criminalised laws, even for petty or everyday infractions like tying a cow to a pole or honking in a silence zone. The amendments aim to address this by creating a more enabling environment that focuses on correction rather than punishment.
Facilitating Ease of Doing Business For businesses, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), procedural compliance often becomes a significant challenge. The fear of criminal prosecution could deter investment and innovation. This bill helps to foster a business-friendly environment by removing unnecessary legal hurdles, promoting a spirit of cooperation between the state and the business community and empowering administrative resolution of issues.
Encouraging Voluntary Compliance By providing warnings and advisories for the first-time offences and by instituting a proportionate penalty regime, the bill encourages citizens and businesses to comply with laws voluntarily. This represents a more participative and trust-based approach to regulation.
Reducing Judicial Burden Decriminalisation of minor offences, administrative adjudication, first-offence warnings, and removal of imprisonment for minor defaults are likely to reduce the case-burden on the judiciary. Criminal cases often clog the legal system, many of which pertain to non-serious, technical defaults; these reforms seek to streamline judicial processes and allow courts to focus on more serious criminal matters.
Legislative Process and Way forward
After introducing the bill in the Lok Sabha, the government has requested the Speaker of the House to refer it to a select committee. This step ensures that the proposed amendments receive detailed scrutiny and input from a range of stakeholders, including members of Parliament across party lines.
The select committee is to be constituted by the speaker, and will play a crucial role in examining the provisions of the bill, gathering feedback and potentially suggesting improvements before the bill is brought back to the House for further debate and eventual passage.
Significance of the Bill in the Broader Policy Context
This bill is a part of a larger policy trend that seeks to rationalise laws, promote good governance and enhance trust between the government and its citizens. It reflects a conscious shift in the government’s approach to being facilitative and being collaborative.
This legislative approach concurs with other government initiatives aimed at simplifying compliance mechanisms, digitising governance processes and reducing regulatory overreach. Moreover, the bill shows that the government is committed to reforming outdated legal provisions and ensuring that the legal system does not become a barrier to economic growth.
Conclusion
This bill represents a forward-looking initiative aimed at transforming the regulatory environment in India. The bill underscores the government’s commitment to a modern fair and facilitative legal framework and balances the need for compliance with the principles of justice and equity.
Once passed, it is expected to have a far-reaching impact on reducing unnecessary criminalisation, improving administrative efficiency, and fostering a more cooperative relationship between the nation and its citizens.
As the bill proceeds to the select committee for further deliberation, it is expected to set in the continued reform of India’s legal and regulatory systems.
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