UPSC Notes

New Criminal Laws (BNS, BNSS, BSA)

PYQs

Articles

Momentum

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

Represents a significant legislative reform impacting fundamental rights, governance, and the administration of justice; tests understanding of legal frameworks and their implementation challenges.

The new criminal laws, namely the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), replaced the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act respectively, coming into force on July 1, 2024, to overhaul India's criminal justice system.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Replaced Acts

Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, Indian Evidence Act

Effective Date

July 1, 2024

Key Focus

Integration of technology in criminal justice processes

Implementation Requirement

Extensive capacity building for stakeholders

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

Type	Reference
Conceptual area	Indian Polity & Governance

Reference table

Institutions & roles

Body	Role
Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D)	Capacity building
State/UT Governments	Implements

Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Statement-based questions

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Quick revision

Replaced IPC, CrPC, Indian Evidence Act.
Effective July 1, 2024.
Emphasizes technology (e-FIR, e-Summons, video conferencing).
Requires extensive training for police, judiciary, prosecutors.
Aims for a more citizen-centric justice system.

High-confidence PYQs

2022Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements : 1. Pursuant to the report of H.N. Sanyal Committee, the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 was passed. 2. The Constitution of ...

Indian PolityOpen question

2021Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

With reference to Indian Judiciary, consider the following statements: 1. Any retired judge of the Supreme Court of India can be called back to sit and act ...

Indian PolityOpen question

We adopted parliamentary democracy based on the British model, but how does our model differ from that model? 1. As regards legislation, the British Parliam...

Indian PolityOpen question

2021Conceptual understanding, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to Indian Judiciary, consider the following statements: 1. Any retired judge of the Supreme Court of India can be called back to sit and act ...

Indian PolityOpen question

We adopted parliamentary democracy based on the British model, but how does our model differ from that model? 1. As regards legislation, the British Parliam...

Indian PolityOpen question

2020Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. Aadhaar metadata cannot be stored for more than three months. 2. State cannot enter into any contract with private cor...

Indian PolityOpen question

2019Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations o...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements : 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per ...

Indian PolityOpen question

With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: 1. No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare any central law to ...

Indian PolityOpen question

2019Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions

With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations o...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements : 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per ...

Indian PolityOpen question

With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: 1. No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare any central law to ...

Indian PolityOpen question

2019Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations o...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements : 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per ...

Indian PolityOpen question

With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: 1. No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare any central law to ...

Indian PolityOpen question

2018Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : 1. The Parliament of India can place a particular law in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India. 2. The validi...

Indian PolityOpen question

Topic timeline

Indian Polity & Governance

Prelims 2018· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : 1. The Parliament of India can place a particular law in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India. 2. The validi...

Open question

Prelims 2019· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations o...

Open question

Consider the following statements : 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per ...

Open question

With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: 1. No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare any central law to ...

Open question

Prelims 2019· Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions

With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations o...

Open question

Consider the following statements : 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per ...

Open question

With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: 1. No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare any central law to ...

Open question

Prelims 2019· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations o...

Open question

Consider the following statements : 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per ...

Open question

With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: 1. No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare any central law to ...

Open question

Prelims 2020· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. Aadhaar metadata cannot be stored for more than three months. 2. State cannot enter into any contract with private cor...

Open question

Prelims 2021· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

With reference to Indian Judiciary, consider the following statements: 1. Any retired judge of the Supreme Court of India can be called back to sit and act ...

Open question

We adopted parliamentary democracy based on the British model, but how does our model differ from that model? 1. As regards legislation, the British Parliam...

Open question

Prelims 2021· Conceptual understanding, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to Indian Judiciary, consider the following statements: 1. Any retired judge of the Supreme Court of India can be called back to sit and act ...

Open question

We adopted parliamentary democracy based on the British model, but how does our model differ from that model? 1. As regards legislation, the British Parliam...

Open question

Prelims 2022· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements : 1. Pursuant to the report of H.N. Sanyal Committee, the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 was passed. 2. The Constitution of ...

Open question

IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW CRIMINAL LAWS

22 Jul 2026 · Major overhaul of criminal laws, replacing colonial-era statutes with a focus on citizen-centric justice and technology.

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Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 8 linked questions on New Criminal Laws (BNS, BNSS, BSA) in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

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New Criminal Laws (BNS, BNSS, BSA)

Overview

Key facts

Reference table

Reference table

Overview

Quick revision

High-confidence PYQs

Topic timeline

Related topics

Practice writing on this topic