Bharatiya_Nyaya_Sanhita

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

Penal code of the Republic of India

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is the official criminal code in the Republic of India. It was introduced in December 2023 to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which dated back to the period of British India.

Quick Facts Parliament of India, Citation ...

Background and timeline

  • On 11 August 2023, Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs, introduced the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha.
  • On 12 December 2023, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023 was withdrawn.
  • On 12 December 2023, the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita Bill, 2023 was introduced in Lok Sabha.[1]
  • On 20 December 2023, the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita Bill, 2023 was passed in Lok Sabha.[2]
  • On 21 December 2023, the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita bill, 2023 was passed in Rajya Sabha.
  • On 25 December 2023, the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita Bill, 2023 received the assent of the President of India.[3]

Changes

In the BNS, 20 new offences have been added to and 19 provisions in the repealed IPC have been dropped. The punishment of imprisonment has been increased for 33 offences, and fines have been increased for 83 offences. A mandatory minimum punishment has been introduced for 23 offences. A sentence of community service has been introduced for six offences.[4]

  • Offences against the body: The BNS retains the provisions of the IPC on murder, abetment of suicide, assault and causing grievous hurt. It adds new offences such as organised crime, terrorism, and murder or grievous hurt by a group on certain grounds.
  • Sexual offences against women: The BNS retains the provisions of the IPC on rape, voyeurism, stalking and insulting the modesty of a woman. It increases the threshold for the victim to be classified as a major, in the case of gang rape, from 16 to 18 years of age.
  • Offences against property: The BNS retains the provisions of the IPC on theft, robbery, burglary and cheating. It adds new offences such as cybercrime and financial fraud.
  • Offences against the state: The BNS removes sedition as an offence. Instead, there is a new offence for acts endangering India's sovereignty, unity and integrity.
  • Offences against the public: The BNS adds new offences such as environmental pollution and human trafficking.[citation needed]

Structure

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita comprises 20 chapters and 358 sections. Its structure is similar to that of the IPC. The outline of the Sanhita is as follows:[5][6]

More information Chapters, Clauses ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023". PRS Legislative Research. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  2. [2]
    "LS passes Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill; Amit Shah says it focuses on justice rather than punishment". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  3. [3]
    Desk, DH Web. "Bills to replace criminal codes enacted into law as President Murmu gives nod". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  4. [4]
    News Desk, India (21 December 2023). "Explained: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the new IPC, and the concerns around it". Financial Express. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  5. [5]
    The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, PSR India, 10 August 2023
  6. [6]
    The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
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