PIB TrackerTwo years on, the new criminal codes bed in — 83,740 officers trained across all states
The government detailed the rollout of India's three new criminal laws — the BNS, BNSS and BSA, in force since 1 July 2024 in place of the colonial-era IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act — with states issuing rules, adopting digital tools, and the BPR&D training 83,740 officers across all 36 states and UTs.
What happened
- The government detailed the rollout of the new criminal laws — BNS, BNSS and BSA (2023) — in force since 1 July 2024.
- They replaced the colonial-era IPC (1860), CrPC (1973) and Evidence Act (1872).
- States/UTs issued rules and notifications, adopted digital applications, and built stakeholder capacity.
- The BPR&D has trained 83,740 officers across all 36 states/UTs since 2024.
- Training spans the 'five pillars' (police, prosecution, judiciary, prisons, forensics); the codes are victim-centric and technology-driven.
For Prelims
- The three new codes: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) [replaces IPC], Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) [replaces CrPC], Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) [replaces the Evidence Act] — in force 1 July 2024.
- Key features: e-FIR/zero-FIR, time-bound investigation/trial, mandatory forensics for offences with 7+ years' punishment, and electronic evidence.
- BPR&D: The Bureau of Police Research and Development — trains police and builds capacity on the new laws.
- Five pillars: Police, prosecution, judiciary, prisons and forensics — the components of the criminal-justice system.
- Digital backbone: Apps like eSakshya (evidence), CCTNS/ICJS and Nyaya platforms support the new processes.
- Significance: The largest overhaul of criminal law since Independence, replacing colonial-era codes.
For UPSC: A high-yield polity-and-justice item — the transition to India's new criminal codes and their implementation. Use it for the BNS/BNSS/BSA and criminal-justice reform, technology in justice (forensics, e-evidence), capacity-building (BPR&D), and the shift from colonial-era codes.
What it is NOT: This is an implementation-status update (a parliamentary reply), not a new law — the three codes have been in force since 1 July 2024. It reports training and rollout, not fresh legislative changes.
For Mains
Syllabus: GS2.6 · GS2.15 · Linkage L2
Anchor
Modernising justice — bedding in citizen-centric, technology-driven criminal codes across the system.
Substantiation (data)
BNS/BNSS/BSA in force since 1 July 2024 (replacing IPC/CrPC/Evidence Act); states issued rules and adopted digital tools; BPR&D trained 83,740 officers across all 36 states/UTs from the five pillars.
Exemplification
e-FIR/zero-FIR, mandatory forensics for serious crimes, and electronic evidence (eSakshya) as the new system's tools.
Problematisation
Uniform capacity across states, forensic infrastructure, backlog and transition issues, and public awareness.
Way-forward
Scale forensic capacity and training, integrate digital platforms end-to-end, and monitor outcomes (speed, conviction, victim experience).
Position
A modern, tech-enabled and victim-centric criminal-justice system requires sustained capacity and infrastructure investment.
Deploys into: Polity & governance — judiciary/criminal justice + e-governance (GS2.6, GS2.15) · the new criminal codes (BNS/BNSS/BSA), forensics and electronic evidence, BPR&D capacity-building, and justice-system reform.
Ministry of Home Affairs · 2026-07-22 · PRID 2287679 · PIB source ↗