To improve the business environment in the country and to stop small crimes from happening in this sector, the Government of India has approved the Public Trust Bill on Thursday. In this bill, amendments in 784 provisions of 79 laws have been approved. The bill was discussed in the Rajya Sabha. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal finally replied, after which the proposal was passed by voice vote. This bill was passed in the Lok Sabha only a day earlier.
Regarding this bill, Goyal has said that a culture has to be created and the culture of trust will not be created on the basis of fear, but on the basis of trust. He said that this proposed law is being brought with the same thought to create a developed India with confidence. He said that the biggest provision made in the proposed law is that it gives you a chance to improve. He said that a few years ago there were about 500 startups in the country. Today their number has exceeded three lakhs. 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.
What other information did the Union Minister give?
- Goyal said that there are many such provisions in this law, in which first warning will be given in case of minor mistakes. For the second time, there will be a penalty for the mistake and then if you commit some more serious mistake, then for the third time the penalty will increase and you will have to face court proceedings.
- Apart from this, Goyal said that an amendment has been brought in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. There has been no change in the provision if any person sells, possesses, imports, distributes or possesses or sells counterfeit medicines. The penalty on this has been kept the same as before. He said that all we have done is that if someone gets AYUSH or homeopathic medicine, then action should be taken against the one who did not write his name on it while making it. What will be the benefit of taking action against small shopkeepers?
- In this bill, amendments are also proposed in the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, Insurance Act, and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act. Apart from this, changes have also been proposed in the Coal Mines Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, Patent Act, Legal Metrology Act, Cantonment Act 2006, Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Pharmacy Act, 1948, Delhi Police Act, Electricity Act, and Railway Act.
- The government had introduced this bill in the Lok Sabha on March 27 with provisions to decriminalize small crimes and increase ease of business and life. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had introduced the Public Trust (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha on March 18 last year, which was sent to the Select Committee. This bill was brought in the House after incorporating the recommendations of the Select Committee headed by BJP MP Tejashwi Surya.
Also read: Government will discuss Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament amid assembly elections, special session to run for three days
