Which laws changed?
| Old law (repealed) | New law (in force from 1 July 2024) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) | Offences and punishments |
| Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) | Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) | Procedure: FIR, arrest, bail, investigation, trial |
| Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (IEA) | Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) | Rules of evidence in court |
Which law applies to my case?
As a general rule, offences committed before 1 July 2024 are tried under the IPC, because a person can only be punished under the law in force when the act was done (Article 20(1) of the Constitution). Procedure is more complicated: BNSS Section 531 saves the CrPC for appeals, applications, trials, inquiries and investigations that were already pending on that date. If your case straddles the change, ask an advocate which provisions apply.
Check before you cite. This table covers the most-searched sections and is for quick reference. Some old sections were split, merged or reworded, so the new section may not be an exact match. Always confirm against the official text on India Code before using a section in a document or in court. Spotted an error? Tell us.