THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, APRIL 2, 2026
In a major legislative
milestone aimed at strengthening India’s regulatory ecosystem, both the Lok
Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions)
Bill, 2026, marking a decisive step towards promoting Ease of Doing Business
and Ease of Living across the country. The landmark reform reflects the
Government’s commitment to fostering a trust-based governance framework by
reducing compliance burdens and rationalising legal provisions that impact
individuals, entrepreneurs and businesses.
The Bill introduces
wide-ranging amendments to 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts administered
by 23 Ministries, significantly streamlining regulatory processes. Out of
these, 717 provisions have been decriminalised to ease the compliance framework
for businesses, while 67 provisions have been amended to improve everyday ease
of living for citizens. By removing penalties for minor technical and
procedural lapses, the legislation aims to encourage voluntary compliance,
reduce litigation, and create a more enabling environment for economic growth
and innovation.
The reform initiative
goes beyond the immediate amendments, seeking to rationalise more than 1,000
offences by eliminating provisions that imposed criminal liability for
relatively minor violations. The move is expected to enhance investor
confidence, improve administrative efficiency, and support India’s ongoing
efforts to build a modern, transparent and growth-oriented regulatory
structure.
The legislative journey of the Bill began on 18 August 2025 when it was introduced in the Lok Sabha as the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025. Initially proposing amendments to 355 provisions across 16 Central Acts administered by 10 Ministries and Departments, the Bill was subsequently referred to a Select Committee of the Lok Sabha chaired by Tejasvi Surya. The Committee held 49 sittings, conducted extensive consultations with stakeholders, and submitted its report on 13 March 2026. Based on its recommendations, the scope of reforms was significantly expanded to include additional provisions across 62 more Central Acts, reinforcing the government’s commitment to simplifying laws and promoting trust-based compliance.
