Current Affairs 28 March 2026

Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026

The Government of India has introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha to promote Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living through decriminalisation of minor offences.

Key Highlights:

The Bill proposes amendments to 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries. It aims to decriminalise 717 provisions, replacing criminal penalties such as imprisonment with monetary fines or administrative actions.

Additionally, 67 provisions are amended to improve citizen convenience and simplify procedures, especially under laws like the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994.

Major Reforms:

The Bill promotes a shift from punitive governance to trust-based governance by:

• Removing outdated and redundant legal provisions
• Introducing graded penalties (warnings for first-time offences)
• Rationalising fines based on the severity of offences
• Establishing Adjudicating Officers and Appellate Authorities for faster dispute resolution

Background:

• Replaces the earlier Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill, 2025 after Select Committee recommendations
• Builds upon the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023, which decriminalised 183 provisions

Tunguska Air Defence Missile System

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed contracts worth ₹858 crore for strengthening India’s air defence and maritime surveillance capabilities.

Key Highlights:

The contracts include procurement of the Tunguska Air Defence Missile System for the Indian Army and depot-level inspection of P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft for the Indian Navy.

The Tunguska missile system contract, valued at ₹445 crore, has been signed with JSC Rosoboronexport, Russia. These advanced systems will enhance India’s multilayered air defence against threats such as aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles, further strengthening the Indo-Russian defence partnership.

Japan Extends ODA Loan to India for Key Development Projects

Japan has committed Official Development Assistance (ODA) worth JPY 275.858 billion (approx. ₹16,420 crore) to India for four major projects in urban transport, healthcare, and agriculture.

Key Highlights:

The loan agreements have been signed between the Government of India and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, strengthening the India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership.

Major Projects Funded:

• Sustainable Horticulture Development in Punjab
• Bengaluru Metro Rail Project (Phase 3)
• Mumbai Metro Line 11 Project
• Strengthening Tertiary Healthcare System in Maharashtra

PLFS Annual Report 2025 Released

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report 2025, providing insights into employment, unemployment, and workforce trends in India.

Key Highlights:

• The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for persons aged 15 years and above remained stable at 59.3% in 2025, indicating steady workforce engagement.
• The Worker Population Ratio (WPR), which measures the proportion of employed persons, stood at 57.4%, showing stability compared to the previous year.
• The overall Unemployment Rate (UR) declined slightly to 3.1% in 2025, reflecting improvement in employment conditions. Among youth (15–29 years), unemployment also decreased to 9.9%.
• There has been a gradual shift in employment patterns, with a decline in agriculture employment share and an increase in manufacturing and services sectors.
• The share of workers in regular wage/salaried employment increased to 23.6%, while self-employment saw a slight decline.
• Female earnings showed stronger growth compared to males across employment categories, indicating gradual improvement in gender wage trends.