Govt May Review 5 Crore Pending Minor Offence Cases Under Jan Vishwas Reforms: Piyush Goyal

The government is likely to review nearly five crore pending cases related to minor offences following the passage of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference, Goyal said the move is part of broader reforms aimed at improving ease of doing business. He noted that prosecutors could approach courts to close such cases under the new provisions, which seek to reduce criminal proceedings for minor regulatory violations.

“At the local level, we encourage officials or prosecutors to try and finish these cases based on the new law,” he said.

Goyal added that individuals affected by such cases can approach prosecuting offices, and authorities may act under the revised framework to close pending litigation.

A key feature of the Jan Vishwas reforms is the replacement of criminal penalties, including imprisonment for minor procedural violations, with graded monetary penalties.

The approach reflects a shift towards a more facilitative regulatory system while retaining strict enforcement for serious violations affecting public health and safety.

Goyal emphasised that the government aims to move away from criminal punishment in cases where there is no deliberate intent to violate the law, instead promoting a compliance-based enforcement model.

Both Houses of Parliament have passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, marking a significant step towards enhancing ease of doing business and ease of living.

Key Amendments Across Laws

The law amends 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts administered by 23 ministries, decriminalises 717 to support businesses, and modifies 67 to improve everyday compliance for citizens.

Overall, the legislation seeks to rationalise over 1,000 offences by eliminating minor ones and creating a more conducive regulatory environment.

Goyal said regulators may now issue warnings, improvement notices, or small penalties, escalate them for repeat violations, and reserve criminal prosecution for serious offences.

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