Over 100 offences set to be decriminalized by year-end

The Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 will be tabled during the monsoon or winter session of Parliament

- Gireesh Chandra Prasad & Dhirendra Kumar

The government is preparing to decriminalize more than 100 offences under various laws by the end of this year to improve investor confidence and unlock potential for faster economic growth, three persons familiar with the development said.

The Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 that seeks to decriminalize such offences will be tabled during the monsoon or winter sessions of Parliament, they said.

India's decriminalization drive announced by finance and corporate affairs minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 1 February entails removing criminality from minor violations and procedural lapses, dropping outdated provisions in the law, and making the regulatory regime more suited to current economic realities.

In effect, such offences would no longer lead to arrests, a court trial, or a jail term, but would be adjudicated by regulators, with the possible levy of a fine.