The BNS commenced on 1 July 2024 except section 106(2), which the commencement notification expressly excluded. The historic IPC remains relevant where savings or transition provisions apply.
BNS
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
The BNS is the current general criminal code for offences and punishments under the new criminal-law framework.
About this law
An Act to consolidate and amend the provisions relating to offences and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Applicability
Effective from 1 July 2024 except section 106(2), which S.O. 850(E) expressly excluded; always check the statutory text, later notifications and applicable savings or transition rules.
Old and new law relationship
Instrument-level transitions are verified first. Section-to-section mappings are published separately because one old provision can split into several new provisions, or vice versa.
Choose your reading lens
Citizen
Start with plain-language rights, duties, common situations and safe next steps; then open the dated official text.
Lawyer
Use the effective-date version, amendments, commencement material, cross-references and primary authorities.
Law student
Study the structure, key concepts, legislative history, provision crosswalks and leading interpretations.
Researcher
Use source provenance, version history, machine-readable relations and change events for reproducible research.
Versions and source state
Current official source
Valid 1 July 2024 onward
Instrument metadata is verified. Exact provision-level text import and hash verification are tracked separately.
Change timeline
BNS commenced
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 came into force on 1 July 2024 except section 106(2), which S.O. 850(E) expressly excluded.