Citizen-friendly & pro-business approach! Odisha Cabinet clears Jan Vishwas Ordinance to decriminalise minor offences

In a landmark move to modernise its legal and regulatory framework, the State government approved the Odisha Jan Vishwas Ordinance, 2025, on Friday.

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The ordinance is set to decriminalise minor and procedural offences, simplify compliance, and align state laws with national reforms like the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 and the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Approved by the Cabinet, this reform initiative covers 16 state laws across key sectors such as municipal governance, commerce, taxation, public health, and cooperative societies. The move is part of Odisha’s broader push towards Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and Ease of Living (EoL), reinforcing a trust-based governance model.

The ordinance covers a diverse range of regulatory and administrative domains, including:

1. The Odisha Nurses and Midwives Registration Act, 1938 

2. The Odisha Municipal Act, 1950 

3. The Odisha Prevention of Gambling Act, 1955 

4. The Odisha Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1956 

5. The Odisha Town Planning and Improvement Trust Act, 1956 

6. The Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1956 

7. The Odisha Electricity (Duty) Act, 1961 

8. The Odisha Kendu Leaves (Control of Trade) Act, 1961 

9. The Odisha Co-operative Societies Act, 1962 

10. The Odisha Industrial Establishments (National and Festival) Holidays Act, 1969 

11. The Odisha Development Authorities Act, 1982 

12. The Odisha Fire and Emergency Services Act, 1993 

13. The Odisha Municipal Corporation Act, 2003 

14. The Odisha Value Added Tax Act, 2004 

15. The Odisha Labour Welfare Fund Act, 2005 

16. The Odisha Excise Act, 2008

This reform is expected to significantly reduce the compliance burden on entrepreneurs and common citizens, positioning Odisha as a pro-business, citizen-friendly, and forward-looking state. By replacing fear-based enforcement with rational, civil penalties and transparent processes, the ordinance seeks to enhance regulatory trust and economic dynamism.

The ordinance represents a step toward the vision of Bikashita Odisha, enabling growth, social equity, and legal modernisation in tandem.