Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2026, Key Features

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 has been passed by both Houses of Parliament, marking an important step towards improving Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living.

The Bill seeks to amend around 80 central laws to decriminalise and rationalise offences and penalties. It replaces the earlier Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, which covered only 17 Acts and was referred to a Select Committee of the Lok Sabha.

Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 Key Features 

The following are the key features of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, which reflect a shift towards trust-based governance, proportionate regulation, and a compliance-oriented framework:

Decriminalising offences:

The Bill decriminalises several offences, and instead imposes civil penalties for such offences. For example: 

• Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, activities such as manufacturing or selling cosmetics in violation of the law earlier attracted imprisonment of up to one year, along with a fine or both. The Bill replaces this with a civil penalty, which may extend to ₹1 lakh or up to three times the value of the confiscated goods, whichever is higher.
• In a similar manner, under the National Highways Act, 1956, actions that make a highway unsafe or obstruct its use were previously punishable with imprisonment of up to five years. The Bill removes the jail term and instead prescribes a monetary penalty ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore.

Removal of imprisonment term:

In some cases, the Bill removes the imprisonment term for an offence. For example, under the Indian Succession Act, 1925, failure to surrender revoked probate or letters of administration is punishable with imprisonment up to three months, a fine, or both. Under the Electricity Act, 2003, non-compliance with an order or a direction is punishable with imprisonment up to three months, a fine, or both. The Bill instead imposes only a fine, and also increases the maximum amount of fine.

Omission of offences:

The Bill eliminates a number of offences that are considered outdated or unnecessary. These include acts such as raising a false fire alarm under the Delhi Police Act, 1978, not reporting births and deaths as required under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, and making incorrect entries in copyright records under the Copyright Act, 1957.

Revision of fines and penalties: 

The Bill revises the monetary value of fines and penalties for several offences. It further provides that fines and penalties specified by it will increase by 10% of the respective minimum amount every three years.

Warnings on first and second offences:  

The Bill amends some Acts to provide for advisories or warnings in the first or second instances of an offence.  For example, under the Apprentices Act, 1961, offences punishable with fines include refusing to furnish information, and requiring an apprentice to work overtime. The Bill provides that an advisory will be issued for the first contravention, and a warning will be issued for the second contravention.  A civil penalty will be imposed for subsequent contraventions. 

Improvement notices:  

The Bill introduces the concept of improvement notices under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. Earlier, offences such as using or selling non-standard weights and measures were directly punishable with fines. Under the new approach, a first-time violation may lead to an improvement notice, giving the person time to correct the non-compliance. If the violation continues, a civil penalty may be imposed for the second offence, while repeated violations can attract a criminal fine.

Adjudication of penalties: 

The Bill amends certain Acts to provide for the appointment of adjudicating officers to hold inquiries and adjudicate penalties. It also provides for appointment of appellate authorities to hear appeals against decisions of adjudicating officers.

Property tax and advertisement tax in New Delhi municipal area: 

• The Bill makes changes to the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994 to simplify the property tax system. It clearly separates property tax into two parts, tax on buildings and tax on vacant land.
• It provides for the creation of a Municipal Valuation Committee, which will suggest how property values should be calculated and revised over time, making the system more transparent.
• It also sets up a Hardship and Anomaly Committee to handle complaints and difficulties faced by taxpayers, ensuring better grievance redressal.
• In addition, the Bill removes the provision for advertisement tax, thereby simplifying the overall taxation structure in the municipal area.

Manner of revision of fines and penalties under Jan Vishwas Act of 2023:  

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 provides for revision of fines and penalties specified by it every three years. The Bill adds that if any Act already prescribes its own method of revision, the method in that Act will apply.

Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2026 Significance 

The government has highlighted that the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 is a major step towards promoting ease of doing business, improving ease of living, and establishing a trust-based regulatory framework.

• Economic Significance: The Bill is expected to improve the Ease of Doing Business by reducing compliance burden and eliminating the fear of imprisonment for minor and technical violations. This will create a more predictable and investor-friendly environment, encouraging entrepreneurship and investment.
• Administrative Significance: The Bill aims to reduce the burden on courts by shifting minor offences to adjudicating officers and appellate authorities. This will enable faster and more efficient resolution of cases, improving overall governance efficiency.
• Governance Reform: The Bill promotes a shift towards trust-based governance by replacing criminal penalties with civil penalties and graded enforcement. It focuses on encouraging compliance rather than imposing strict punishment.
• Ease of Living: The government has stated that the Bill will enhance Ease of Living by simplifying legal procedures and reducing hardships faced by citizens. The use of advisories, warnings, and improvement notices will make the system more citizen-friendly.
• Legal and Regulatory Clarity: The Bill removes outdated provisions and rationalises penalties, ensuring that laws are clearer and penalties are proportionate to the nature of offences. This will improve transparency and consistency in enforcement.

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