What has changed in the National Highways and Motor Vehicles Act? What were the penalties previously? Find out what the new rules say..
Jan Vishwas Bill 2026: Taking a significant step toward making the governance system simpler, more transparent, and business-friendly, the Central Government has introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The primary objective of this Bill is to eliminate imprisonment as a penalty for minor and procedural violations, replacing it instead with provisions for civil penalties—specifically, fines—thereby facilitating a transition from "fear-based governance" to "trust-based governance." Under this Bill, amendments are proposed to a total of 784 provisions across 80 central laws. Of these, 717 provisions will be decriminalized (removed from the criminal category), while the remaining changes are being implemented to streamline administrative processes.
The Central Government's Jan Vishwas Bill 2026 also incorporates amendments to the National Highways Act, 1956, and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988; under these amendments, the provision for imprisonment has been abolished, and penalties have been limited solely to fines. The government believes that this initiative will alleviate unnecessary legal pressure on ordinary citizens and businesses, thereby eliminating the fear of imprisonment for minor infractions. Let us outline the penalties prescribed under these two Acts previously, and the specific changes that have now been introduced.
New Changes in the National Highways Act
Blocking a National Highway is an unlawful act. The National Highways Act was enacted specifically to address such matters. Under Section 8-B of this Act, protesters previously faced the possibility of imprisonment for up to five years, in addition to fines. This was because Section 8-B contained various clauses enabling legal action—including the registration of an FIR—against individuals engaged in protests. However, pursuant to the new amendments, the provision for imprisonment in cases involving the blocking of National Highways has been abolished, and the penalty has now been restricted solely to the imposition of fines.
New Changes in the Motor Vehicles Act
The Indian Motor Vehicles Act, enacted in 1988, constitutes a comprehensive set of rules and regulations governing all types of motor vehicles. This Act encompasses almost every aspect of transportation, including the ownership and usage of road transport vehicles, the licensing of conductors and drivers, traffic regulations, provisions for permits, and more. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, 2019, penalties and punishments for traffic violations were significantly increased. The primary penalties include fines ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹25,000, imprisonment ranging from 6 months to 3 years, suspension of a driving license, or a combination of both fines and imprisonment. Now, under the new rules, only fines will be imposed.
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