Stats and highlights
Figures and changes as reported by the Government of India and the press, each with its source. Counts described by the Ministry of Home Affairs are its own characterisation and are attributed as such. Where a provision is named, it links to the text.
At a glance
358
Sections
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 contains 358 sections; the Indian Penal Code, 1860 it replaced had 511.
Source: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (presentation), PIB, 22 May 2024; The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 45 of 2023), Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Ministry of Law and Justice (via PRS Legislative Research), 25 December 2023
20
Chapters
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: The Act as published in the Gazette is arranged in 20 chapters, from Chapter I (Preliminary) to Chapter XX (Repeal and Savings); the Ministry compares this with 23 chapters in the IPC.
Note: Some secondary publications describe the BNS as having 19 chapters, apparently not counting Chapter XX; the Gazette text has 20. The Delhi Police Academy handbook describes the IPC as having '23 + 3' chapters, reflecting chapters inserted into the IPC by later amendments (e.g. Chapter VA).
Source: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (presentation), PIB, 22 May 2024; The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 45 of 2023), Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Ministry of Law and Justice (via PRS Legislative Research), 25 December 2023
1 July 2024
In force from
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: The Act came into force on 1 July 2024, except sub-section (2) of section 106.
Source: Highlights of New Criminal Laws, PIB, 30 July 2024; New Criminal Laws, PIB, 10 December 2024
Legislative history
11 August 2023
Introduced in Lok Sabha
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Bill No. 121 of 2023) was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 11 August 2023 and referred to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs.
Source: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Bill Track), PRS Legislative Research; The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — Bill No. 121 of 2023, as introduced in Lok Sabha, PRS Legislative Research, 11 August 2023
10 November 2023
Standing Committee report
The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs presented its 246th Report on the Bill to the Chairman, Rajya Sabha on 10 November 2023.
Source: Two Hundred Forty-Sixth Report on the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, 10 November 2023; The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Bill Track), PRS Legislative Research
12 December 2023
First Bill withdrawn; second Bill introduced
The first Bill was withdrawn and the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 (Bill No. 173 of 2023) was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 12 December 2023.
Note: PRS states that the second Bill incorporates certain recommendations of the Standing Committee.
Source: The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 (Bill Track), PRS Legislative Research; The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 — Bill No. 173 of 2023, as introduced in Lok Sabha, PRS Legislative Research, 12 December 2023
21 December 2023
Passed by Parliament
The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 was passed by the Lok Sabha on 20 December 2023 and by the Rajya Sabha on 21 December 2023.
Source: The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 (Bill Track), PRS Legislative Research; Union Home Minister … Shri Amit Shah replied to the discussion on the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 … in the Lok Sabha today, PIB, 20 December 2023; New criminal justice laws to be rolled out across India from July 1, 2024, The New Indian Express, 24 February 2024
25 December 2023
Presidential assent
The Bill received the President's assent on 25 December 2023 and was published in the Gazette the same day.
Source: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 45 of 2023), Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Ministry of Law and Justice (via PRS Legislative Research), 25 December 2023; New criminal justice laws to be rolled out across India from July 1, 2024, The New Indian Express, 24 February 2024; Highlights of New Criminal Laws, PIB, 30 July 2024
23 February 2024
Commencement notification
By notification S.O. 850(E) dated 23 February 2024, the Central Government appointed 1 July 2024 as the date of commencement of all provisions except section 106(2).
Source: Govt. Notifies July 1, 2024 as the Effective Date for Enforcement of Provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Taxmann, 27 February 2024; New criminal justice laws to be rolled out across India from July 1, 2024, The New Indian Express, 24 February 2024; Three criminal laws to be effective from July 1, The Hindu, 24 February 2024
Reported changes from the IPC
Official figures differ between releases: the English PIB release of the Home Minister's Lok Sabha reply on 20 December 2023 gave 21 new offences, imprisonment increased in 41, fines increased in 82, a mandatory minimum in 25, community service in 6 and 19 sections repealed; the Hindi release of the same reply gave 20 new offences, a mandatory minimum in 23, community service in 6 and 19 repealed.
20
New offences added
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: 20 new offences have been added in the BNS.
Source: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (presentation), PIB, 22 May 2024; Explained: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the new IPC, and the concerns around it, Financial Express, 21 December 2023; केन्द्रीय गृह एवं सहकारिता मंत्री श्री अमित शाह ने आज लोक सभा में भारतीय न्याय (द्वितीय) संहिता 2023 … (Hindi release), PIB, 20 December 2023
19
IPC provisions deleted
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: 19 provisions that existed in the IPC have been deleted.
Note: The Delhi Police Academy BNS handbook gives the figure as 20 deleted IPC provisions.
Source: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (presentation), PIB, 22 May 2024; Explained: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the new IPC, and the concerns around it, Financial Express, 21 December 2023; Union Home Minister … Shri Amit Shah replied to the discussion on the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 … in the Lok Sabha today, PIB, 20 December 2023
33
Offences with increased imprisonment
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: The punishment of imprisonment has been increased in 33 offences.
Source: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (presentation), PIB, 22 May 2024; Explained: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the new IPC, and the concerns around it, Financial Express, 21 December 2023
83
Offences with increased fines
As reported by the Delhi Police Academy BNS handbook and the Financial Express: The fine has been increased in 83 offences.
Note: This figure was not found in a PIB or Ministry of Home Affairs document.
Source: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Handbook, Delhi Police Academy, 14 June 2024; Explained: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the new IPC, and the concerns around it, Financial Express, 21 December 2023
23
Offences with a mandatory minimum punishment introduced
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: A mandatory minimum punishment has been introduced in 23 offences.
Source: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Handbook, Delhi Police Academy, 14 June 2024; Explained: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the new IPC, and the concerns around it, Financial Express, 21 December 2023; केन्द्रीय गृह एवं सहकारिता मंत्री श्री अमित शाह ने आज लोक सभा में भारतीय न्याय (द्वितीय) संहिता 2023 … (Hindi release), PIB, 20 December 2023
6
Offences punishable with community service
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: Community service is added to the list of punishments in section 4 and is provided for six offences: public servant unlawfully engaging in trade, non-appearance in response to a proclamation, attempt to commit suicide to compel or restrain a public servant, first-time petty theft on restoration of property, misconduct in public by a drunken person, and defamation.
Section 4(f)Section 202Section 209Section 226Proviso to Section 303(2)Section 355Section 356(2)
Note: The Delhi Police Academy handbook cites the petty-theft provision as 'u/s 302 BNS'; in the Act text it is the proviso to section 303(2). The PIB presentation of May 2024 lists five of these situations, omitting section 209. The words 'or with community service' appear in sections 202, 209, 226 and 355, and section 303(2) provides that the offender 'shall be punished with community service'.
Source: Highlights of New Criminal Laws, PIB, 30 July 2024; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Handbook, Delhi Police Academy, 14 June 2024; Explained: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the new IPC, and the concerns around it, Financial Express, 21 December 2023; Union Home Minister … Shri Amit Shah replied to the discussion on the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 … in the Lok Sabha today, PIB, 20 December 2023
Section 2(10)
'Gender' includes transgender
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: The definition of 'gender' refers to any person, whether male, female or transgender.
Source: Highlights of New Criminal Laws, PIB, 30 July 2024
Chapter V (ss. 63–99)
Chapter on offences against woman and child
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: Offences against woman and child are grouped in a new Chapter V, placed before the chapter on offences affecting the human body.
Source: Highlights of New Criminal Laws, PIB, 30 July 2024; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in place of Indian Penal Code, PIB, 26 March 2025
Section 152
IPC sedition offence not reproduced
The BNS does not contain the IPC offence of sedition (section 124A); it contains an offence of acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India (section 152).
Note: The word 'sedition' does not appear in the BNS text. PRS notes that the new offence may retain aspects of the sedition offence.
Source: The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 (Bill Track), PRS Legislative Research; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (presentation), PIB, 22 May 2024; Key Features of the New Criminal Laws, PIB, 20 August 2025
Omitted
Adultery and IPC section 377 not retained
The BNS does not include the IPC offences of adultery (IPC section 497) and intercourse 'against the order of nature' (IPC section 377).
Note: Verified by absence: neither 'adultery' nor 'order of nature' occurs in the Act text. PRS notes that omitting section 377 also removes the offences of rape of men and bestiality that it had covered.
Source: The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 (Bill Track), PRS Legislative Research; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (presentation), PIB, 22 May 2024; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Handbook, Delhi Police Academy, 14 June 2024
Provisions in the news
Section 103(2)
Murder by a group on identity grounds
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: Murder by a group of five or more persons acting in concert on grounds such as race, caste or community, sex, place of birth, language or personal belief is punishable with death or imprisonment for life; the Government describes this as the offence of mob lynching.
Source: Provisions under BNS, PIB, 11 March 2026; The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 (Bill Track), PRS Legislative Research
Section 106(2)
Hit-and-run provision held back
Section 106(2), which provides up to ten years' imprisonment for causing death by rash and negligent driving and escaping without reporting it, was excluded from the 1 July 2024 commencement after a nationwide strike by transporters and drivers in January 2024.
Note: On 2 January 2024 the Government stated that a decision to invoke section 106(2) would be taken only after consultation with the All India Motor Transport Congress. This page does not track any later notification for section 106(2).
Source: Press Release (concerns of truckers regarding Section 106(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), PIB, 2 January 2024; Truckers call off stir after Centre says new law on hit-and-run cases only after consultation, The Indian Express, 2 January 2024; Three criminal laws to be effective from July 1, The Hindu, 24 February 2024; Highlights of New Criminal Laws, PIB, 30 July 2024
Section 111
Organised crime
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: Organised crime, including continuing unlawful activity such as kidnapping, extortion, land grabbing, contract killing, economic offences and cyber-crimes on behalf of a crime syndicate, has been added as an offence.
Source: Key Features of the New Criminal Laws, PIB, 20 August 2025; The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 (Bill Track), PRS Legislative Research
Section 112
Petty organised crime
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: Petty organised crime, covering acts such as theft, snatching, cheating and selling of public examination question papers by a member of a group or gang, has been added as an offence.
Source: Key Features of the New Criminal Laws, PIB, 20 August 2025; The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 (Bill Track), PRS Legislative Research
Section 113
Terrorist act
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: A terrorist act has been added as an offence; an officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police decides whether to register a case under this section or under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Section 113Section 113(1)Explanation to Section 113
Source: Key Features of the New Criminal Laws, PIB, 20 August 2025; The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 (Bill Track), PRS Legislative Research; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Handbook, Delhi Police Academy, 14 June 2024
Section 304
Snatching
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: Snatching has been defined as a distinct form of theft, punishable with imprisonment of up to three years and fine.
Source: Key Features of the New Criminal Laws, PIB, 20 August 2025; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (presentation), PIB, 22 May 2024
Section 69
Sexual intercourse by deceitful means
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs: A new offence covers sexual intercourse, not amounting to rape, obtained by deceitful means or a promise to marry made without intent to fulfil it; 'deceitful means' includes false promise of employment or promotion, or marrying by suppressing identity.
Section 69Explanation to Section 69
Source: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in place of Indian Penal Code, PIB, 26 March 2025; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Handbook, Delhi Police Academy, 14 June 2024
Compiled 19 October 2026. This page reports what was published; it does not assess the changes.