20 NDA-ruled states adopt Jan Vishwas reforms to decriminalise minor offences
New Delhi: The Centre's flagship Jan Vishwas initiative is rapidly emerging as one of the NDA government's most expansive governance reforms, with 20 NDA-ruled states and Union Territories having enacted or approved their own Jan Vishwas laws or ordinances since 2024 to decriminalise minor offences and reduce regulatory burden.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh has gone a step further by enacting the Ease of Doing Business Act, becoming the first state to base its business approval system on risk-based industry classification and trust in entrepreneurs. The law aims to reduce red tape, cut compliance costs and make it easier, particularly for MSMEs, to start and run businesses.
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The latest to join Jan Vishwas is Assam, with the state cabinet approving the Assam Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026, earlier this month. The bill proposing amendments to 16 state laws by replacing court-based prosecution for minor violations with administrative adjudication and appeal mechanisms.
The rapid uptake marks a sharp acceleration of the reform. By 2025-end, only eight states had adopted Jan Vishwas. Within months, the number has more than doubled, underlining the NDA's push to replicate the Centre's trust-based regulatory model across states.
Among the biggest reform exercises, Haryana has decriminalised 164 provisions across 42 State Acts, while Goa amended 142 provisions across 11 laws, making them among the most extensive state-level overhauls. Delhi amended 71 provisions across eight Acts, Rajasthan revised 57 provisions across 11 laws, and Puducherry modified 47 provisions across 13 Acts.
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Several states have also repealed obsolete laws. Andhra Pradesh amended 12 Acts while repealing two outdated laws, whereas Tripura amended provisions across 10 laws, including the repeal of five obsolete Acts.
Other NDA governments that have rolled out Jan Vishwas reforms include Bihar, Uttarakhand, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Gujarat, with each tailoring the framework to replace imprisonment or criminal prosecution for procedural and technical violations with monetary penalties or administrative adjudication.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh has gone a step further by enacting the Ease of Doing Business Act, becoming the first state to base its business approval system on risk-based industry classification and trust in entrepreneurs. The law aims to reduce red tape, cut compliance costs and make it easier, particularly for MSMEs, to start and run businesses.
Also Read: UP ATS raids TMC leader's home, madrasa in Bengal in terror funding case
The latest to join Jan Vishwas is Assam, with the state cabinet approving the Assam Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026, earlier this month. The bill proposing amendments to 16 state laws by replacing court-based prosecution for minor violations with administrative adjudication and appeal mechanisms.
The rapid uptake marks a sharp acceleration of the reform. By 2025-end, only eight states had adopted Jan Vishwas. Within months, the number has more than doubled, underlining the NDA's push to replicate the Centre's trust-based regulatory model across states.
Among the biggest reform exercises, Haryana has decriminalised 164 provisions across 42 State Acts, while Goa amended 142 provisions across 11 laws, making them among the most extensive state-level overhauls. Delhi amended 71 provisions across eight Acts, Rajasthan revised 57 provisions across 11 laws, and Puducherry modified 47 provisions across 13 Acts.
Also Read: NDA floor leaders likely to meet on July 17 ahead of Monsoon session
Several states have also repealed obsolete laws. Andhra Pradesh amended 12 Acts while repealing two outdated laws, whereas Tripura amended provisions across 10 laws, including the repeal of five obsolete Acts.
Other NDA governments that have rolled out Jan Vishwas reforms include Bihar, Uttarakhand, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Gujarat, with each tailoring the framework to replace imprisonment or criminal prosecution for procedural and technical violations with monetary penalties or administrative adjudication.
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