Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill 2025 Withdrawn for Review: Tejasvi Surya Select Committee Proposes Massive Decriminalisation
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 was withdrawn from Lok Sabha on 17 March 2026 to incorporate recommendations from the Select Committee chaired by Tejasvi Surya, which after 49 sittings proposed decriminalising 689 provisions across 78 Acts to boost Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and Ease of Living (EoL).
Background and Introduction
Introduced on 18 August 2025 by Minister Piyush Goyal, the Bill amends 17 central Acts (e.g., municipal laws, motor vehicles, MSMEs, legal metrology) by replacing imprisonment for minor, technical or procedural defaults with monetary penalties, warnings or advisories. It extends the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 framework, promoting trust-based governance and reducing judicial overload from non-serious offences.
Referred to a Select Committee on 18 August 2025 (Tejasvi Surya appointed Chairman 1 October 2025), the panel expanded review beyond the Bill’s original scope.
Select Committee’s Expansive Review
After 49 meetings and stakeholder consultations, the Committee (report tabled 12 March 2026):
- Reviewed 78 legislations (expanded from Bill’s 17 Acts).
- Examined 355 provisions in original Bill + 92 additional + 65 new Acts.
- Recommended decriminalising 689 provisions, eliminating over 1,000 criminal offences—India’s largest such exercise.
Reform Mechanism:
- Serious offences (public health/safety): Retain criminality.
- Minor lapses: Adjudicating Officers impose penalties; 10% fine increase every 3 years (or Act-specific indexation).
Tejasvi Surya highlighted PM Modi’s vision, crediting Speaker Om Birla, Ministers Goyal/Rijiju and Committee members.
Withdrawal and Future Prospects
Withdrawn 17 March 2026 for revisions; reintroduction expected post-Budget Session incorporating Committee inputs. Aligns with JPC 2022 advice for institutional decriminalisation mechanism and state-level replication.
Strategic Impact
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EoDB/EoL: Frees businesses/citizens from jail fear for paperwork errors.
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Judicial Relief: Shifts minor cases to administrative adjudication.
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Governance: Builds trust deficit between state and stakeholders.
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Committee stats (49 sittings, 78 Acts, 689 prov.), Jan Vishwas lineage.
Mains (GS-II): Legislative simplification, federal reforms, judicial burden reduction.
Sample: “Jan Vishwas 2025 Select Committee recommended decriminalising provisions in: (a) 17 Acts (b) 78 Acts (c) 49 Acts (d) 92 Acts.”
FAQs: Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill 2025
Q1. What is the Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill, 2025?
Bill to amend 17 Acts by replacing imprisonment for minor offences with penalties, promoting EoDB/EoL.
Q2. Why was it withdrawn on 17 March 2026?
To incorporate Select Committee recommendations after report tabling on 12 March.
Q3. Who chaired the Select Committee?
Tejasvi Surya (appointed 1 Oct 2025); conducted 49 sittings.
Q4. Key recommendation?
Decriminalise 689 provisions across 78 Acts; remove >1,000 offences.
Q5. Reform for minor offences?
Penalties/warnings via Adjudicating Officers; fines rise 10% every 3 years.
Q6. Builds on which law?
Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 (trust-based governance).
Q7. UPSC angle?
GS-II: Legislative reforms, EoDB, judicial efficiency.
Q8. Next steps?
Revisions and reintroduction post-withdrawal.
