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The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, is an important reform aimed at improving ease of doing business and ease of living in India. Passed by the Indian Parliament in April 2026, the law focuses on decriminalising minor offences and promoting trust-based governance. This reform is particularly relevant for UPSC aspirants, as it connects with topics like governance reforms, regulatory simplification, and economic policy. Under this amendment, the government has decriminalised 717 minor offences and amended 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts administered by 23 ministries. The major goal is to reduce compliance burden on businesses, minimize litigation, and shift from punishment-based regulation to a trust-based administrative framework. Instead of criminal punishment, such as imprisonment for minor procedural mistakes, the Act replaces them with civil penalties and monetary fines. This step helps prevent unnecessary criminalisation of business activities and encourages a more supportive regulatory environment. Another major feature is the introduction of Adjudicating Officers, who will have the authority to impose penalties administratively. This will reduce the burden on courts and speed up dispute resolution, allowing quicker handling of minor regulatory violations. The Act also includes a periodic increase in penalties, where fines will automatically increase by 10% every three years. This ensures that penalties remain effective and aligned with inflation and economic changes. Background of the Reform The reform builds upon the earlier Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, which initially decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts administered by 19 ministries. The 2023 law covered sectors such as- Agriculture Environment Media and publication Health It introduced the idea of replacing criminal punishments with administrative penalties in several laws. Later, the government introduced another bill in August 2025 to expand these reforms. After review by a parliamentary committee, it evolved into the 2026 amendment, significantly expanding its scope to 79 Central Acts. Several important laws that have undergone changes include- Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 – regulates the import, manufacture, and sale of drugs and cosmetics in India. Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 – ensures food safety and quality standards. Pharmacy Act, 1948 – regulates the profession and practice of pharmacy. Why is this reform important? This reform aims to transform the regulatory framework by: ✔ Reducing criminal liability for minor compliance errors ✔ Encouraging entrepreneurship and business growth ✔ Lowering litigation and court workload ✔ Strengthening trust between government and businesses The initiative also aligns with India's broader goals of improving its global ranking in Ease of Doing Business and building a modern regulatory system. Some Indian states, including Maharashtra and Gujarat, have already introduced similar Jan Vishwas laws at the state level to simplify their regulatory frameworks. For UPSC aspirants, this topic is important for- GS Paper 2 – Governance GS Paper 3 – Economy & Business Environment Current Affairs for Prelims and Mains Watch this video to understand the Jan Vishwas Amendment Act 2026, its background, features, and its significance for India's governance and economy. #JanVishwasAct2026 #UPSCCurrentAffairs #EaseOfDoingBusiness #GovernanceReforms #IndianEconomy #IASPreparation #UPSC2026 #PolicyReforms #IndianPolity #CurrentAffairs