Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, also known as the Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0, is a significant reform by the Government of India aimed at improving compliance, decriminalising minor offences, and creating a more business-friendly regulatory environment. Building on the 2023 reforms, it strengthens India's commitment to “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.”

Key Takeaways

• Decriminalisation at scale: More than 288 provisions will go from criminal to civil penalties, so the apprehension of possible imprisonment for breach is lifted.
• Digital-first compliance: Enabling paperless processes through unified business identities and the introduction of the DigiLocker integration.
• Ease of Doing Business: Clearer penalties, along with stronger adjudication, lead to greater certainty for investors and improved efficiency in governance.

What is the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025?

The Jan Vishwas Bill, 2025, is an extensive reform which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on the estimated compliance burden on businesses. As proposed, the Bill amends 355 clauses across 16 Central Acts, administered by 10 Ministries.

It replaces imprisonment with proportionate monetary penalties, warning individuals for their first offence, and appointing officers to address adjudication processes. 

The Bill is shifting India’s regulatory framework away from criminalising conduct to civil penalties, as well as prioritising digital-first compliance. It mirrors the Government of India’s vision of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” to encourage innovation and business.

Evolution of the Jan Vishwas Bill

The Jan Vishwas Bill has evolved into a key driver of India’s regulatory reforms:

• 2022: The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022 was the first bill to take a shot at decriminalising minor offences across 42 Central Acts, which was presented in The Lok Sabha and referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, which reported back in March 2023.
• 2023: After passing the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 came into effect, decriminalising 183 provisions in 42 laws listed across 19 Ministries, with minor infringement replaced by civil penalties and administrative remedies.
• 2024: The Ministry of Commerce & Industry and DPIIT expanded reforms by reviewing almost 100 additional rules and laws which facilitate involvement in business in India towards global benchmarks.
• 2025–26: The Union Budget introduced the Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0, covering 355 provisions under 16 Acts. It strengthened reforms with simplified adjudication, digital-first compliance, and a proposal for One Nation, One Business Identity.

From its launch in 2022 to its expanded scope in 2025, the Jan Vishwas Bill has evolved into a cornerstone of India’s regulatory reforms.

Key Highlights of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025

The Bill aims to simplify compliance and promote a business-friendly regulatory environment. Key highlights include:

• Wider Coverage: 355 provisions amended across 16 Central Acts (288 decriminalised, and  67 simplified).
• First-Time Offences: Advisory/warning for 76 offences under 10 Acts.
• Penalty Reforms: Commensurate fines, higher penalties for repeat offences, and an automatic increase of 10% every three years.
• Administrative Adjudication: Officers could impose penalties which would reduce litigation
• Regulatory Reforms Committee: To review regulations for non-financial sectors and approve simplifications.
• One Nation, One Business Identity: Plan to integrate 23 identifiers (PAN, GSTIN, CIN, etc.) into one "digital Identity".
• Digital-first Compliance: Online processes, eliminating the need for further duplication of notarisation/self-attestation.
• DigiLocker for Business: Digital compliance repository to ensure security, avoid paperwork and speed up approvals.
• Future Decriminalisation: More proposals, including the Tea Act (1953), Legal Metrology Act (2009), Motor Vehicles Act (1988), and the Drugs & Cosmetics Act (1940).

Benefits and Implications of the Jan Vishwas Bill

Positive Impacts-

• Enhances Ease of Doing Business: Easier compliance will elevate India’s position internationally.
• Decrease Corruption: Civil penalties replace bribes/unofficial payments.
• Encourages Investments: A Predictable environment strengthens investor confidence.
• Empowers Entrepreneurs: Reduces fear of criminal action for technical lapses.
• Judicial Relief: Courts unburdened via administrative adjudication.
• Digital Transformation: Shorter wait times for approvals by adopting DigiLocker and unified IDs.
• Competitiveness: Improves India’s global investment appeal.

Challenges & Concerns-

• Poor Coverage: Over 20,000 imprisonment clauses relating to imprisonment are untouched.
• Slow Implementation: Reforms face delays at the ground level.
• Risk of Over-Trivialisation: Some “minor” offences (e.g., safety lapses) carry real risks.
• Labour Rights Concerns: Decriminalising labour violations may weaken worker protections.
• State-Level Gaps: Uneven implementation across states.
• Penalty Inflation Risk: A 10% hike every three years may lag behind real inflation.
• Discretionary Power Risks: Granting adjudication powers to officers may increase the scope for misuse or arbitrary decision-making.

Timeline and Status of Jan Vishwas Bill

• December 2022: Jan Vishwas Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha.
• March 2023: JPC submitted report; 183 provisions decriminalised.
• August 2023: Jan Vishwas Act, 2023, notified.
• 2024: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) began review of ~100 additional rules/laws.
• February 2025 (Union Budget): Jan Vishwas 2.0 announced, covering 355 provisions across 16 Acts.
• 2025–26: The implementation phase begins with a focus on penalty rationalisation, digital-first compliance, and One Business Identity.

The Jan Vishwas Bill, 2025 (Jan Vishwas 2.0), is currently under implementation, with ministries tasked with notifying rules, designating adjudicating officers, and rolling out digital compliance infrastructure.