India’s new criminal laws came into force nationwide on 1 July 2024. They replace the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). Together, they update offences, tighten procedures, and place digital and forensic evidence at the centre of trials. The Union government has paused only one clause so far—BNS Section 106(2) on fatal hit-and-run—while it reviews stakeholder concerns.
What changed under the BNS
The BNS retains most familiar offences but rewrites several areas. It drops sedition and introduces a broader offence that targets acts threatening India’s sovereignty, unity and integrity. It also brings terrorism into the general code instead of leaving it only to special laws. Moreover, it recognises community service as a punishment in select cases. In addition, the code defines organised crime and addresses mob lynching with specific provisions. As a result, investigators and courts now work with clearer labels for contemporary harms.
Procedure and policing under the BNSS
The BNSS reshapes investigations and court timelines. Police custody still tops out at 15 days; however, courts may now split those days across the first 40 or 60 days of the overall 60/90-day remand window. Consequently, bail strategy changes during early investigation. The law also expands e-FIR and Zero FIR, which lets citizens file complaints electronically or outside territorial limits when needed. Meanwhile, the BNSS pushes forensics to the front line: for offences punishable by seven years or more, investigating officers must ensure a forensic visit to the scene and video-record key steps. States may phase in full capacity, yet forces are expected to use shared labs and mobile units to bridge gaps.
Evidence rules in the BSA
The BSA modernises how courts handle electronic records. It recasts the old Section 65B framework by focusing on the integrity of data, including hash-based verification and clearer certification routes. Therefore, investigators must document the collection trail with more discipline. Lawyers also need to align their filings with the new numbering and formats. In practice, stronger chains of custody and routine videography should reduce disputes over admissibility and delay.
India new criminal laws: how states are rolling them out
States and Union Territories are pairing legal rollout with training and technology. Police academies now run short modules on the three codes for investigators, prosecutors and prison staff. Many forces have updated standing orders to reflect BNSS timelines, e-FIR intake and scene-of-crime protocols. Several states are procuring mobile forensic vans to meet the “visit and videograph” mandate in serious cases. Others are upgrading CCTNS, e-Challan and courtroom video links so officers and witnesses spend less time travelling. Public outreach also matters: helplines, social posts and citizen desks explain how to file an e-FIR, how Zero FIR works, and what victims should expect after registration.
Why this overhaul matters
The tri-code framework aims to speed up investigations, cut discretion at first response and make digital proof trial-ready. Mandatory forensic inputs and videography should raise the quality of evidence. New offences close gaps around modern threats, while community service offers flexible sentencing in minor cases. Ultimately, outcomes will depend on state capacity: trained personnel, functioning labs, dependable mobile units and strict adherence to standard operating procedures. If those pieces hold, the reforms can deliver faster, more consistent justice while preserving due process.