India's Parliament passes landmark Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill aimed at transforming business and regulatory environment. The legislation decriminalizes 717 provisions across 79 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries, replacing criminal penalties with civil and administrative enforcement for minor technical defaults. The bill rationalizes over 1,000 offences and removes outdated provisions to significantly reduce litigation burden on courts. Key reforms include replacing imprisonment with monetary penalties or warnings, implementing graded enforcement mechanisms, and establishing Adjudicating Officers for speedy case disposal. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized the shift toward trust-based governance and proportionate regulation. Amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act and New Delhi Municipal Council Act aim to simplify procedures and enhance citizen convenience.
