Jan Vishwas Bill 2026: Decriminalising Minor Offences
Why in the news
The Government brought the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 to the Lok Sabha, presented by Jitin Prasada after reflecting a Select Committee’s recommendations.
Key facts
- House of introduction: Lok Sabha; presented by Jitin Prasada.
- Aim: ease of doing business and ease of living.
- Means: decriminalise minor offences, rationalise penalties, cut compliance burden and promote trust-based governance.
Key features
| Feature | What changes |
|---|---|
| Decriminalisation | Imprisonment removed for minor violations; criminal offences become civil penalties |
| Rationalised penalties | Graded penalties by severity, keeping punishment proportional |
| Multiple laws | Provisions amended across several Acts to improve regulatory efficiency |
| Trust-based governance | Move from punishment to compliance-driven governance, encouraging voluntary compliance by businesses |
About decriminalisation
It means taking away criminal penalties such as imprisonment for certain offences and replacing them with civil penalties like fines.
Exam angle
- Useful for UPSC Prelims and Mains, State PCS, governance and polity.
- House: Lok Sabha; minister: Jitin Prasada.
- Key term: decriminalisation, not abolition of rules.