The Public Trust (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2026, brought to ease business and general life in the country, was passed by Rajya Sabha on Thursday by voice vote. The Lok Sabha had approved it a day earlier. Through this bill, the government has proposed to amend a total of 784 provisions in 79 central laws. Its main objective is to decriminalize minor crimes, rationalize the penal system and promote a culture of trust instead of fear.
Statement of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal
Responding to the discussion on the bill, Piyush Goyal said, “The purpose of this law is to create a ‘culture of trust’, which will not be based on fear, but on duty and trust.” He said that this law gives people a chance to improve. There is a provision for warning first for small mistakes, punishment for second time and strict action only for serious mistakes. This has been called a phased action. He said that a few years ago there were about 500 startups in the country and today their number has increased to more than three lakh. The youth running these startups may make minor mistakes but instead of punishing them for these, we should give them a chance to move forward.
key provisions
- Prison sentence removed from 57 provisions
- Fine removed from 158 provisions
- Imprisonment period reduced in 17 provisions
- In 113 provisions, imprisonment was converted into fine.
In the bill, changes have been made in many important laws including Motor Vehicles Act, New Delhi Municipal Act, laws related to medicines, banking, insurance, patents, electricity, railways.
understand important things
There is no exemption for manufacturing, storage, sale and import of counterfeit medicines. The punishment will remain the same as before. Startups and small entrepreneurs will get relief. Goyal said that earlier there were 500 startups, now the number has crossed 3 lakh. Instead of punishing small mistakes of young entrepreneurs, they should be given a chance to move forward.
Now people will not have to go to court for about 1,000 minor mistakes. The government believes that this bill will play an important role in building a “developed India” and will further strengthen the trust of the people in Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
SK Sharma is a content writer who writes on news, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. She has over four years of experience and is known for conveying information in simple and clear language.
