Govt introduces Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 in LS; what it proposes
The 2025 legislation focuses on improving ease of doing business and ease of living, simplifying regulations, and rationalizing penalties. Key changes include amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, the NDMC Act (property tax), and increased penalties for unleashed dogs. The bill has been referred to a parliamentary committee.
New Delhi: On Monday, the government introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha. It was tabled by commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal. This is the second Jan Vishwas Bill. In 2023, the government had passed a similar law that decriminalized 183 provisions across 42 central Acts, administered by 19 ministries and departments.
The 2025 Bill was introduced and then referred to the Select Committee of the Lok Sabha for examination. The panel has been tasked to submit its report to the House by the first day of the next session of Parliament.
What's are its key proposals
The Bill proposes to decriminalise around 288 provisions related to minor offences under different laws, aimed at promoting ease of living and creating a better business environment.
These proposals include increasing the penalty for not keeping a dog on a leash in public, grant a 30-day grace period after licence expiry of vehicle, and ease vehicle registration rules under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Four Acts — the Tea Act, 1953, Legal Metrology Act, 2009, Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 — were part of Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 and are proposed for further decriminalisation under the 2025 bill.
The Bill, which got the Cabinet nod, plans to amend 355 provisions across 16 central Acts under 10 ministries and departments. It proposes to decriminalise 288 provisions to foster ease of doing business and rationalise penalties in 67 others to facilitate ease of living.
According to the Bill, the fine for unleashed dogs in Delhi has been revised, increasing the penalty for dogs without a metal leash and collar from Rs 50 to Rs 1,000 after the first warning is issued. Besides, 20 amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act have been proposed to make compliance simpler for citizens. These include permitting vehicle registration across the entire state rather than restricting it to a particular jurisdiction.
For promoting Ease of Living, more than 40 provisions of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Act will be revised, replacing the outdated Rateable Value Method of property tax collection with the Unit Area Method — a formula-based system designed to simplify assessment, minimize subjectivity, and enhance compliance. In addition, under the Apprentices Act, 1961, there will be a provision for warning rather than fine for offences like asking an apprentice to work overtime without approval of Apprenticeship Adviser.
"The Jan Vishwas Bill, 2025 marks a significant milestone in India's regulatory reform journey," the commerce and industry ministry has said.