Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act 2026 w.e.f 15.05.2026 relating to the Disaster Management Act 2005
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 30th April, 2026
S.O. 2181(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (8 of 2026), the Central Government hereby appoints the 15th day of May, 2026 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act, in so far as it relates to serial number 60 and the entries thereto in the Schedule to the said Act, relating to the Disaster Management Act, 2005, shall come into force.
[F. No. U-11019/6/2025-UTL]
PRAVEEN KUMAR RAI, Jt. Secy.
Analysis of Notification
This notification (S.O. 2181(E)) follows the same logic as the previous one you shared, but it applies to a different law. It announces that starting 15 May 2026, specific amendments to the Disaster Management Act, 2005, will officially take effect.
These changes are part of the Jan Vishwas Act, 2026, which focuses on “decriminalisation”—moving away from jail time for minor or technical slips and replacing them with monetary penalties.
What changes for the Disaster Management Act?
The “Serial Number 60” entry in the Jan Vishwas Act specifically amends sections of the Disaster Management Act to make the law more practical and less punitive for non-serious errors:
- Replacing Prosecution with Penalties: For certain minor offences—like failing to comply with a direction or obstructing an officer without a serious consequence—the law is shifting from criminal imprisonment to civil/administrative penalties (fines).
- Removal of Fear for Officials and Citizens: Previously, even small procedural delays during a disaster could technically lead to jail time. These amendments aim to ensure that only deliberate, high-stakes misconduct leads to a criminal court case.
- Compounding of Offences: It introduces a system where minor violations can be “settled” by paying a fine to the government (compounding), rather than going through a long trial in a magistrate’s court.
In simple terms:
The government is saying: “If someone makes a technical mistake during disaster management activities, we will fine them rather than putting them in jail.” This is intended to reduce the burden on the courts and make the law less intimidating for people working in this sector.