The Union Cabinet approved a bill to decriminalise minor offences under different ministries, ensuring ease of doing business. The proposal was uncertain by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

In a meeting, Cabinet discussed the Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022. Hence, it approved the bill, which might be introduced in the winter session of Parliament. The bill bids to rationalise about 110 provisions across 35 Acts administered by 16 ministries.

Reasoning the rationale behind this legislation, the government focuses on reducing the entire compliance burden on businesses and citizens. After a brief consultation with all stakeholders, the department finalised the bill. The DPIIT received reports and suggestions from industry bodies contradicting archaic criminal provisions.
The bill decriminalises imprisonment provisions of minor offences to trivial procedural violations from 35 Acts. Besides, 110 such conditions are to be amended in this one bill.

These 35 laws, administered by various Union Ministries and departments, include finance, food production and distribution, fintech, agriculture, commerce, environment, road transport and highways, defence, posts, electronics and IT.