CURRENT AFFAIRS | MARCH 28, 2026
CLAT GK + CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (LEGISLATIVE PROCESS & DECRIMINALIZATION)
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 — the second edition of the landmark decriminalization initiative — was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 28, 2026, by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada. The Bill proposes amendments to 784 provisions across 79 central Acts administered by 23 ministries. Of these, 717 provisions are to be decriminalized, while 67 changes aim to improve ease of living.
Specifically, the Bill proposes to remove imprisonment in 57 provisions, remove fines in 158 provisions, reduce imprisonment in 17 provisions, and convert imprisonment and fine to monetary penalties in 113 provisions. Key Acts affected include the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and the New Delhi Municipal Council Act 1994. Opposition members, including Congress MPs K. Kavya and G.K. Padavi, opposed the introduction, alleging the Bill would affect the basic structure of the Constitution by replacing imprisonment with mere fines.
Why This Matters for Govt. Exams
Constitutional & Legal Framework
- Article 19(1)(g): Right to practice any profession, occupation, trade or business. Decriminalization reduces the chilling effect of criminal liability on legitimate business activities.
- Article 14 (Equality & Non-Arbitrariness): The opposition argues that replacing imprisonment with fines creates inequality — wealthy offenders can pay fines while poor offenders face disproportionate burden.
- Separation of Powers: The Bill raises questions about the legislature’s power to alter the nature of offences (criminal to civil) and whether this affects judicial review powers.
- Delegated Legislation: Many decriminalized provisions empower the executive to set penalty amounts through rules, raising concerns about excessive delegation of legislative power.
- Legislative Competence: Parliament’s power to decriminalize provisions across diverse Acts raises questions about the scope of Union List legislative authority.
- Jan Vishwas Act 2023: The first edition decriminalized 183 provisions across 42 Acts administered by 19 ministries — this Bill is 4x larger in scope.
CLAT Exam Angle
This is a high-probability Govt. Exams 2026-27 topic combining legal reasoning with current affairs:
- Passage-based legal reasoning: Arguments for/against decriminalization of regulatory offences
- Constitutional principles: Art 14 (reasonable classification), Art 19(1)(g) (trade freedom), Art 21 (liberty from arbitrary criminal prosecution)
- Parliamentary process: Role of Select Committees, standing committees, and reintroduction of withdrawn Bills
- Policy reasoning: Ease of doing business vs. deterrent effect of criminal law, proportionality in punishment
- Comparative approach: Jan Vishwas 2023 (42 Acts) vs. Jan Vishwas 2026 (79 Acts) — evolution of reform
Key Facts at a Glance
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Provisions Amended | 784 provisions |
| Provisions Decriminalized | 717 provisions |
| Ease of Living Changes | 67 provisions |
| Central Acts Affected | 79 Acts |
| Ministries Involved | 23 ministries |
| Imprisonment Removed | 57 provisions |
| Fines Removed | 158 provisions |
| Introduced By | MoS Commerce Jitin Prasada |
| Predecessor | Jan Vishwas Act 2023 (42 Acts, 183 provisions) |
CLAT Mnemonic: VISHWAS
V – Violations decriminalized: 717 provisions across 79 Acts
I – Imprisonment removed in 57 provisions
S – Select Committee reviewed the Bill before reintroduction
H – Hassle-free business: replaces jail with monetary penalties
W – Wider scope than 2023 Act (79 Acts vs 42 Acts)
A – Art 19(1)(g) freedom of trade, Art 14 equality concerns
S – Standing Committee referral demanded by opposition
Test Your Understanding
Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions
Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.
