Jan Vishwas Bill 2025
The Government of India has introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha, marking the second phase of legal reforms aimed at reducing unnecessary criminalisation, simplifying compliance, and promoting ease of doing business.
This Bill builds on the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, taking forward the government’s mission to modernize outdated laws, reduce judicial burden, and create a trust-based governance framework.
In this blog, we’ll explain the Jan Vishwas Bill 2025 in simple language — including its objectives, key provisions, background, importance, and future impact.
Introduction to the Jan Vishwas Bill 2025
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 seeks to decriminalise minor offences under 16 central laws, rationalize penalties, and promote business-friendly regulations.
Key highlights of the Bill:
Amends 355 provisions across 16 central legislations.
Decriminalises 288 offences and modifies 67 others.
Introduces warnings and improvement notices for first-time offenders.
Simplifies compliance processes to encourage entrepreneurship and investment.
Aims to reduce court pendency and ease the burden on the judiciary.
This Bill represents a paradigm shift in India’s legal framework, moving from a punishment-based approach to a trust-based governance model.
Background of the Jan Vishwas Bill
India has more than 880 central laws, many of which were framed decades ago. These laws often include criminal penalties for minor mistakes, leading to unnecessary harassment and litigation.
Some key facts that led to the introduction of the Bill:
Over 75% of criminal cases arise from laws unrelated to serious crimes.
Many offences are technical or procedural in nature but carry harsh punishments.
Examples of outdated provisions include penalties for:
Milking a cow on the street.
Not exercising a pet dog properly.
Minor violations of weights and measures rules.
Such laws clog the judiciary and discourage entrepreneurship.
The Jan Vishwas Bill 2025 addresses these issues by decriminalising petty offences and streamlining compliance requirements.
Objectives of the Jan Vishwas Bill 2025
The Bill focuses on five major objectives:
(a) Reduce Over-Criminalisation
Minor violations will no longer attract imprisonment; instead, fines or warnings will be imposed.
(b) Promote Ease of Doing Business
Simpler compliance procedures and fewer legal hurdles will encourage startups, MSMEs, and large enterprises to operate smoothly.
(c) Reduce Judicial Burden
By removing unnecessary criminal penalties, millions of cases will be prevented from reaching courts, allowing judges to focus on serious matters.
(d) Build Trust-Based Governance
The Bill promotes a citizen-friendly legal system, where trust and cooperation replace fear and harassment.
(e) Encourage Economic Growth
Simplifying laws and reducing litigation encourages entrepreneurship, investment, and job creation, directly boosting the economy.
Judicial Burden and the Need for Reform
India’s judiciary is already overburdened:
36+ million pending cases exist in Indian courts.
A significant share involves minor offences with small penalties.
More than 50% of business-related laws have imprisonment clauses.
The Jan Vishwas Bill 2025 seeks to reduce this backlog by removing criminal penalties for trivial defaults and replacing them with fines or improvement notices.
Key Provisions of the Jan Vishwas Bill 2025
The Bill proposes comprehensive legal reforms across multiple sectors:
Scope of Amendments
Total provisions amended: 355
Offences decriminalised: 288
Offences modified: 67
Laws covered: 16 central legislations
Sectors Affected
Banking & Finance
Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare
Textiles & Manufacturing
Transport & Shipping
Electricity & Energy
Municipal Governance
Consumer Protection
Environmental Compliance
First-Time Offenders’ Relief
For 76 offences under 10 key Acts, first-time offenders will not face immediate penalties.
Instead, they will receive improvement notices or warnings, encouraging compliance rather than punishment.
Penalty Rationalisation
The Bill introduces major reforms in penalty structures:
Replacing Jail with Fines
For several minor offences, imprisonment clauses are removed.
Example: Under the Electricity Act, failure to comply with certain rules will attract monetary fines instead of jail time.
Automatic Penalty Revision
A 10% increase in fines every three years to maintain deterrence.
Reduces the need for frequent legislative amendments.
Simpler Compliance Mechanisms
Encourages self-reporting of defaults.
Businesses can rectify minor lapses without facing criminal action.
Impact on Businesses and Citizens
The Jan Vishwas Bill 2025 is expected to have wide-ranging effects:
For Businesses
Reduces compliance-related harassment.
Boosts investor confidence.
Simplifies starting and operating enterprises.
Encourages Make in India and Ease of Doing Business initiatives.
For Citizens
Minimises harassment for minor, unintentional violations.
Promotes fair and balanced legal enforcement.
Encourages a citizen-friendly approach in governance.
Government’s Vision
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government aim to transform India’s legal system into one that is modern, efficient, and citizen-centric.
Key aspects of the vision:
Remove outdated laws that no longer serve society.
Create a business-friendly environment.
Build trust between citizens, businesses, and authorities.
The Bill has been referred to a Lok Sabha Select Committee for detailed examination. The committee’s report is expected in the next parliamentary session, which may lead to further reforms.
Benefits of the Jan Vishwas Bill 2025
Promotes economic growth and job creation.
Reduces judicial delays and case backlogs.
Builds confidence among entrepreneurs and investors.
Encourages voluntary compliance instead of forced punishment.
Enhances citizen trust in governance.
Challenges and Criticisms
While the Bill is widely welcomed, certain challenges remain:
Implementation Gaps: States must align local laws with the new framework.
Potential Misuse: Authorities may still misuse discretionary powers.
Need for Awareness: Citizens and businesses must be educated about revised laws.
Ensuring Uniformity: Central and state coordination is crucial for smooth execution.
Conclusion
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 is a significant step toward modernising India’s legal system. By decriminalising minor offences, simplifying compliance, and promoting trust-based governance, the Bill aims to reduce judicial burdens and accelerate economic growth.
If implemented effectively, the Bill will create a more business-friendly environment, encourage innovation and investment, and improve citizen-government relations.
COMMENTS