FIR and Zero FIR
Reporting a cognizable offence, electronic information and jurisdiction.
Criminal procedure · India
A source-led guide to FIRs, arrest, appearance notices, bail, custody and legal aid under India's current criminal laws. High-risk guidance stays behind qualified legal review.
A police complaint, FIR, Zero FIR, notice to appear, arrest memorandum and remand order are different records. The document, alleged offence, date, State or Union Territory and any special law decide which procedure applies.
Coverage map
Review status is shown with text and an icon, not colour alone. Planned pages are not treated as legal guidance.
Reporting a cognizable offence, electronic information and jurisdiction.
The statutory escalation path and the records to preserve.
Grounds of arrest, arrest memorandum, family information and counsel.
How an appearance notice differs from arrest and why compliance records matter.
Bailable, regular and pre-arrest routes under the current procedure.
Statutory investigation periods and detention-limit safeguards.
Magistrate oversight, police custody and judicial custody.
A plain-language map from investigation to judgment.
CrPC, IPC and Evidence Act references mapped to BNSS, BNS and BSA.
Official support routes and the documents applicants may need.
Primary references
Nyaya Portal explainers supplement official material. They do not replace the current Act, notification, court order or advice based on the facts.
Official consolidated text of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Read the BNSS(opens official site)Acts, commencement material and official resources for the new criminal laws.
Open MHA resources(opens official site)Official legal-aid information, eligibility guidance and access routes.
Check legal-aid guidance(opens official site)Published after review
A source-backed draft guide to reporting a cognizable offence, filing irrespective of territorial jurisdiction, obtaining a free copy, and escalating a refusal.
Read reviewed guideA review draft explaining the difference between an appearance notice and arrest, the arrest record, information rights, access to an advocate, and Magistrate oversight.
Read reviewed guideA source-backed review draft mapping the main BNSS bail routes, the documents a lawyer needs, statutory time thresholds, and the limits of general online guidance.
Read reviewed guide