New Delhi – On April 2, 2026, the Rajya Sabha passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, following its approval by the Lok Sabha on April 1. This landmark legislation amends 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts administered by 23 ministries to shift from a punitive, fear-driven regulatory approach to a trust-oriented system.
News Report: Decriminalising Healthcare Compliance
Building on the 2023 Act, the 2026 Bill decriminalises 717 offences and amends over 784 provisions to improve “Ease of Doing Business” and “Ease of Living”.
- Key Healthcare Legislations Amended: Reforms affect critical acts, including the Drugs and Cosmetics Act (1940), Pharmacy Act (1948), Food Safety and Standards Act (2006), and Clinical Establishments Act (2010).
- Replacement of Imprisonment: For minor technical lapses, jail terms are replaced with graded monetary penalties. For example, certain Drug and Cosmetic violations now attract fines instead of imprisonment.
- New Adjudication Mechanism: To reduce court burdens, the Bill introduces designated adjudicating officers and appellate authorities for faster, administrative resolution of minor issues.
- Medical Devices Industry Impact: The Association of Indian Medical Devices Industry (AiMeD) welcomed the reforms, noting they enable a focus on innovation rather than litigation.
- Safeguarding Public Health: While minor lapses are decriminalised, strict criminal penalties remain for serious offences, such as producing spurious drugs.
