Decriminalisation and Ease of Doing Business
Decriminalisation of minor regulatory offences is a globally recognised reform under the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business framework. India dropped in EoDB rankings partly due to the high number of laws carrying criminal penalties for procedural defaults. The shift from imprisonment to civil penalties is consistent with the principle that criminal law should be reserved for genuinely anti-social conduct, not technical or paperwork failures.
- India ranked 63rd (out of 190) in World Bank's EoDB Index 2020 (last published year)
- Criminal liability for minor defaults remains a barrier to FDI and MSME growth
- Countries like Singapore and the UK decriminalised similar regulatory offences in the 1990s–2000s
- The principle of proportionality in punishment is derived from Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution (right to equality and life/personal liberty)
● Tracked since March 27, 2026 · last seen June 25, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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