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A Lok Sabha reply from the Home Ministry sets out the 'justice-centric' provisions of the three new criminal-law Sanhitas — the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), all 2023, in force since 1 July 2024.
Victim-centric changes include Zero FIR, a free copy of the FIR, mandatory case-progress updates within 90 days, and document supply to both victim and accused within 14 days.
New reformative measures include community service as punishment for minor offences, an expanded scope for summary trials, and trial in absentia for proclaimed offenders.
Strict statutory timelines now bind investigation (90 days), charge-framing (60 days) and judgment pronouncement (45 days after trial conclusion).
Replaces the Indian Penal Code, 1860 — substantive criminal law defining offences and punishments (e.g., death penalty for rape of a minor)
Replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 — procedural law governing investigation, arrest and trial timelines (Section 360 mandates hearing the victim before withdrawal of prosecution)
Replaces the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 — law of evidence, including expanded admissibility of electronic/digital records
Under BNSS, a person can lodge a First Information Report at ANY police station regardless of where the offence occurred or which station has jurisdiction; that station must register it and transfer it to the jurisdictional station, avoiding delay in starting an investigation.
Simple Analogy: Like reporting a stolen wallet at the nearest police outpost while travelling, instead of only at the town where it was actually stolen.
| Old Law | New Law | Key Change |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Penal Code, 1860 | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | Adds community service as a punishment; death penalty for rape of a minor |
| Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 | Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 | Introduces Zero FIR, trial in absentia for proclaimed offenders, statutory investigation/trial timelines |
| Indian Evidence Act, 1872 | Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 | Expands admissibility of electronic and digital records as evidence |
Earlier landmark reform on crimes against women that the new Sanhitas' fast-track and victim-notification provisions build upon
The Sanhitas now make state implementation of Witness Protection mandatory, building on the Supreme Court-mandated 2018 model scheme
GS Paper 2 > Polity & Governance > Criminal Law Reforms
Very high — among the most-tested current polity topics since 2024
An FIR that can be registered at any police station regardless of jurisdiction, later transferred to the appropriate station
A new BNSS provision allowing courts to conduct trial and pronounce a verdict against a person declared a proclaimed offender, even in their absence