PARLIAMENT on Thursday passed a bill to amend 784 provisions in 79 Central laws for decriminalising and rationalising minor offences to further improve the country’s business environment. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, was passed in the Rajya Sabha with a voice vote after Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal replied to a discussion on the legislation. The Minister said the legislation will help citizens and MSMEs. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. These laws are administered by 23 ministries, including coal, commerce and industry, shipping, urban development, and transport. Out of 784, 717 provisions are being amended for decriminalising minor offences and 67 to facilitate ease of living. CAPF Bill gets Parliament’s nod A BILL to create a unified legal framework governing personnel across different Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), replacing the current patchwork of separate service-rule regimes for the five Central forces, was approved by Parliament on Thursday.

 

The Bill, passed by the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, was approved by the Lok Sabha by a voice vote. Several Opposition members said the bill should be referred to a joint committee of Parliament for threadbare scrutiny and stakeholder consultations. An amendment moved by TMC MP Mahua Moitra to refer the bill to a select committee of the Lok Sabha was also negated by a voice vote. The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill comes after Supreme Court, in October last year, dismissed the Centre’s plea seeking a review of its 2025 verdict that directed that IPS officers’ deputation in CAPFs up to the level of Senior Administrative Grade should be “progressively reduced” and asked for a cadre review to be carried out in six months. LS Speaker cautions MPs against long chats in House LOK Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday cautioned Union Ministers and MPs against having long conversations in the House when proceedings were underway and warned that he will name them in future.

 

As soon as the Zero Hour began at 12 noon, Birla said he has seen members and ministers talking for half-an-hour with each other during House proceedings. He said short and important conversations were allowed but not long chats. “I will name you in future... It is important to maintain the dignity of the House,” he said. The speaker naming a member is considered an admonishment. Earlier, during the Question Hour, the Speaker had warned Independent MP Pappu Yadav against talking to a fellow member while showing back to the Chair. He said a senior member like him should desist from such behaviour.