No plan on law to mandate legislative impact assessment: Govt in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: The government does not plan to introduce a law mandating post-enactment legislative impact assessments of Acts passed by Parliament, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. Legislative impact assessment refers to the study of the effects that proposed and enacted laws have on society.

In a written reply, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stated that under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, each ministry or department has been allocated subject matters on which they initiate and implements legislative proposals and also study the social, economic, environmental and judicial impact of such laws after their enactment.

The Law Commission has also been mandated to review and recommend reforms to existing laws.


Meghwal further informed that the 23rd (current) Law Commission has been mandated to identify laws that are no longer needed or relevant and can be immediately repealed.

It has also been instructed to identify laws that are not in harmony with the economic needs and requirements of the times and require amendments, he said.

Additionally, the panel has been asked to identify laws that otherwise require changes or amendments, Meghwal added.