New Criminal Laws
The following Acts of Parliament namely,(1) THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023,(2) THE BHARATIYA NAGARIKSURAKSHA SANHITA, 2023 and(3) THE BHARATIYA SAKSHYA ADHINIYAM, 2023 received the assent of the President of India on the 25th December, 2023 and have been published in the Gazette of India for general general information.
Feb 25, 2025, 21:15 IST
In 2024, India undertook a significant overhaul of its criminal justice system by enacting three new laws:
1. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: This law replaces the Indian Penal Code of 1860, introducing new offenses such as organized crime and terrorism, while removing the colonial-era sedition law.
2. Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023: Replacing the Code of Criminal Procedure, this legislation aims to streamline criminal procedures, emphasizing timely investigations and trials.
3. Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023: This act updates the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, recognizing digital records as admissible evidence and setting guidelines for their handling.
These laws came into effect on July 1, 2024, with the government conducting awareness programs to educate citizens about the changes.
In addition to these reforms, the Indian government has proposed a draft law to curb unregulated lending practices, including digital lending. The proposed legislation suggests penalties of up to seven years in prison and fines up to ₹10 million for unauthorized lending activities. The draft law is open for public feedback until February 13, 2025.
Furthermore, efforts are underway to standardize criminal sentencing to address concerns over arbitrary punishments. The government plans to develop a grading system to ensure that penalties are proportionate to offenses, aiming to present this plan to the Supreme Court by December 2024.
These comprehensive reforms reflect India's commitment to modernizing its legal framework, enhancing transparency, and ensuring justice aligns with contemporary societal needs.