On August 19, 2025, the Union Government introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha, marking a significant push to streamline India’s regulatory framework. Building on the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023, which decriminalized 183 provisions across 42 Acts, the 2025 Bill proposes amendments to 355 provisions in 16 Central Acts, decriminalizing 288 minor offences and revising 67 provisions to enhance ease of living and ease of doing business. Referred to a Select Committee for scrutiny, the Bill aligns with the government’s “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” vision, emphasizing trust-based governance and reduced judicial burden, as reported by sources like The Hindu and GK Today.
Key Provisions of the Jan Vishwas Bill 2025
The Bill introduces sweeping reforms to outdated laws, replacing punitive measures with proportionate penalties to foster compliance without fear. Key features include:
- Decriminalization of Minor Offences:
- 288 minor offences across 16 Acts, such as the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994, and Legal Metrology Act, 2009, will replace imprisonment with warnings, advisories, or monetary fines.
- 76 offences under 10 Acts will issue advisories or warnings for first-time violations, with escalating fines for repeat offences.
- Example: Under the Motor Vehicles Act, minor traffic violations like improper parking will face fines instead of jail time, per PIB reports.
- Proportionate Penalties:
- Fines are structured to escalate with repeat violations, ensuring fairness.
- 10% fine increase every three years post-enactment to account for inflation and deterrence.
- Compounding and adjudication mechanisms will allow out-of-court settlements, reducing litigation.
- Modernized Compliance:
- Leverages technology for streamlined compliance, such as online fine payments and digital monitoring, aligning with Digital India.
- Encourages business process reengineering to modernize regulatory frameworks.
- Covered Acts:
- Includes laws like the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, impacting sectors from transport to environmental compliance.
Impact on Governance and Business
The Jan Vishwas Bill 2025 aims to transform India’s regulatory landscape, with significant implications for citizens, businesses, and the judiciary:
- Ease of Doing Business:
- By removing the fear of imprisonment for minor infractions, the Bill boosts business confidence, crucial for India’s $3.7 trillion economy (2024–25).
- Simplifies compliance for MSMEs, which contribute 30% to GDP and employ 11 crore people, per MSME Ministry data.
- Example: Small businesses under the Legal Metrology Act can now face fines for minor packaging errors instead of criminal charges.
- Ease of Living:
- Reduces harassment from overzealous enforcement, fostering a trust-based relationship between citizens and the government.
- Aligns with Amrit Kaal goals, emphasizing citizen-centric governance for India’s 1.4 billion population.
- Judicial Relief:
- Decriminalization and compounding are expected to reduce the 4.5 crore pending cases in Indian courts (2024 data), freeing judicial resources.
- Administrative mechanisms like adjudication boards will handle disputes, saving time and costs.
- Global Competitiveness:
- Enhances India’s Ease of Doing Business ranking (63rd in 2020, per World Bank), supporting initiatives like Make in India and Startup India.
X Sentiment: Posts like @PIB_India hailed the Bill as a “game-changer for startups,” while @ficci_india noted its potential to cut compliance costs by 20% for businesses.
Background and Context
The Jan Vishwas Act, 2023, decriminalized 183 provisions across 42 Acts, setting a precedent for trust-based governance. The 2025 Bill expands this effort, addressing feedback from stakeholders like FICCI and CII, who emphasized the need for further reforms to reduce criminal penalties. It complements other 2025 legislative moves, such as the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill for removing jailed ministers (from previous document) and aligns with India’s NEP 2020 focus on modernizing systems, as seen in educational reforms like Operation Sindoor modules (from previous document).
Key Drivers:
- Regulatory Overhaul: India’s 1,80,000+ compliances across sectors deter investment, per a 2024 Deloitte study.
- Economic Growth: The Bill supports India’s goal to become a $5 trillion economy by 2027, requiring simplified regulations.
- Public Trust: High-profile cases like Senthil Balaji’s (from previous document) highlight the need for transparent, fair governance.
Legislative Process and Next Steps
Introduced by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, the Bill was referred to a Select Committee of Parliament on August 19, 2025, by the Lok Sabha Speaker, given the Monsoon session’s closure on August 21, 2025. The committee, comprising MPs from various parties, will:
- Conduct consultations with stakeholders like businesses, legal experts, and citizens.
- Submit a report by the first day of the Winter Session 2025 (likely November 24, 2025).
- Recommend refinements to ensure the Bill balances decriminalization with accountability.
Challenges:
- Opposition Concerns: Leaders like Abhishek Singhvi (from previous document) may argue that fines could disproportionately burden small businesses, echoing sentiments on X like @INCIndia.
- Implementation: Effective rollout requires robust digital infrastructure, as only 60% of MSMEs are digitized, per a 2024 NASSCOM report.
- Enforcement Clarity: Ensuring uniform application across states, given India’s federal structure, is critical.
