Decriminalise

Meaning

To remove the criminal character from an act or behaviour; to convert a criminal offence into a civil violation punishable by fine rather than imprisonment.

Origin / Etymology

Latin de (removal) + criminalis (of a crime)

Synonyms

Legalise Liberalise Relax Reform

Antonyms

Criminalise Penalise Prohibit

Example Sentence

"The Jan Vishwas Act 2023 decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 central Acts, replacing imprisonment clauses with monetary fines for minor regulatory violations."

🎯 UPSC Usage

Central concept in India's ease of doing business reforms. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 is India's most comprehensive decriminalisation exercise, converting technical business violations from criminal to civil offences reduces judicial pendency and removes the threat of imprisonment from honest entrepreneurs for procedural defaults. Use in GS-2 (Governance) and GS-3 (Business reforms).

Relevant Subjects