Piyush Goyal introduces Jan Vishwas Bill 2025 to ease doing business

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha as part of the government’s push to further improve ease of doing business and ease of living. 

The Bill, earlier cleared by the Union Cabinet, has now been referred to a select committee, the ministry said in a statement. Members of the committee will be appointed by the Speaker, and the panel will submit its report on the first day of the next Parliament session.

 

Prepared by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, the Bill proposes amendments to 355 provisions under 16 central laws administered by 10 ministries and departments. Of these, 288 provisions will be decriminalised to promote ease of doing business, while 67 will be amended to support ease of living. The law also aims to reduce the load on the judiciary by shifting focus from criminal prosecutions for minor or unintentional violations to civil penalties. 

The Bill proposes that fines and penalties rise automatically by 10 per cent every three years to maintain “deterrence without legislative amendments”. This would keep penalties effective without requiring new laws each time. 

For certain minor infractions, first-time offenders will receive an advisory or warning for 76 offences listed under 10 different laws. Similarly, small paperwork errors will attract penalties or warnings instead of jail terms. Repeat offenders, however, will face steeper penalties to ensure compliance. In addition, government officers, rather than courts, will have the authority to impose penalties through administrative processes.

 

This Jan Vishwas 2.0 follows the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, the first consolidated legislation to decriminalise minor offences across multiple laws. The 2023 Act, notified two years ago, decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 central acts administered by 19 ministries and departments.

 

Earlier laws often prescribed imprisonment for minor or procedural defaults and imposed low fines, creating fear and distrust in the system. The changes are intended to prevent unnecessary imprisonment or the imposition of higher penalties and fines.

 

Four laws covered under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 — the Tea Act, 1953; the Legal Metrology Act, 2009; the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988; and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 — are proposed for further decriminalisation under the new Bill.

 

“The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, marks a milestone in India’s regulatory reform journey. It reflects the government’s commitment to Minimum Government, Maximum Governance and will catalyse sustainable economic growth and improved ease of doing business,” the ministry said. 

The fine print 

  *  Jan Vishwas Bill, 2025 proposes amendments to 355 provisions 

  *  Focuses on civil penalties instead of criminal prosecutions

  *  Proposes that penalties will rise 10% automatically every three years

  *  In case of some minor violations, first-time offenders will get a warning 

  *  Monetary penalties or warnings, instead of jail term, for paperwork mistakes