The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 is India's new criminal code, enacted to replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860. It was passed by Parliament in December 2023 and came into effect on July 1, 2024 .
๐ Key Highlights of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
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Structure: The BNS comprises 20 chapters and 358 sections, maintaining a structure similar to the IPC but with significant updates .
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New Offences Introduced:
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Organised crime and terrorism are now explicitly defined and penalized.
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Cybercrime and financial fraud have been incorporated to address modern technological challenges.
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Environmental pollution and human trafficking are recognized as specific offences.
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Murder or grievous hurt by a group on certain grounds is now an offence with stringent penalties .
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Sedition Repealed: The colonial-era offence of sedition has been removed. Instead, a new offence addresses acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India .
Punishment Reforms:
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Community service has been introduced as a form of punishment for certain offences.
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Mandatory minimum punishments have been established for 23 offences.
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Penalties have been increased for 33 offences, and fines have been raised for 83 offences .
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Gender Neutrality: The BNS introduces gender neutrality for perpetrators under Sections 76 and 77, and for victims under Section 141 .
๐ Related Reforms
The BNS is part of a broader initiative to modernize India's criminal justice system, alongside:
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Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023: Replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure.
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Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023: Replaces the Indian Evidence Act.
These reforms aim to create a more efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric legal framework.
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