On 1 July 2024, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 replaced the 164-year-old Indian Penal Code, 1860. On the same day, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023 replaced the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
For every law student, judiciary aspirant and competitive-exam candidate, this means one thing: the section numbers you memorised have changed. Section 302 is no longer murder. Section 420 is no longer cheating. Moot problems, semester papers and judicial-service syllabi from 2025 onward are framed under the new sections — so knowing the mapping is now an exam advantage, not an option.
How big is the change?
The IPC had 511 sections; the BNS has 358 sections. The numbering was completely reorganised — no IPC section maps to the same number in the BNS. Offences have been regrouped, some merged, a few dropped, and several new offences added.
The golden rule of transition
The date of the offence decides which law applies:
- On or before 30 June 2024 → registered, investigated and tried under the old IPC / CrPC.
- On or after 1 July 2024 → registered under the BNS and dealt with under the BNSS.
IPC → BNS quick reference table
| Offence | Old IPC | New BNS |
|---|---|---|
| Punishment for murder | 302 | 103 |
| Culpable homicide not amounting to murder | 304 | 105 |
| Causing death by negligence | 304A | 106 |
| Attempt to murder | 307 | 109 |
| Abetment of suicide | 306 | 108 |
| Voluntarily causing hurt | 323 | 115(2) |
| Grievous hurt by dangerous weapons/means | 326 | 118(3) |
| Wrongful restraint | 341 | 126 |
| Assault to deter a public servant from duty | 353 | 121 |
| Outraging a woman’s modesty | 354 | 74 |
| Sexual harassment | 354A | 75 |
| Rape (definition) | 375 | 63 |
| Rape (punishment) | 376 | 64 |
| Dowry death | 304B | 80 |
| Cruelty by husband or his relatives | 498A | 85 |
| Insulting a woman’s modesty (word/gesture) | 509 | 79 |
| Theft | 379 | 303 |
| Criminal breach of trust | 406 | 316 |
| Cheating and inducing delivery of property | 420 | 318 |
| Criminal intimidation | 506 | 351 |
| Sedition (now recast) | 124A | 152 |
Tip for aspirants: cite the BNS section first, then the old IPC section in brackets — e.g. “Section 103 BNS (formerly Section 302 IPC).”
New offences introduced by the BNS
- Organised crime — Section 111
- Petty organised crime — Section 112
- Terrorist act — Section 113
- Mob lynching — Section 103(2) (group of five or more; up to death)
- Snatching — Section 304
- Hit-and-run causing death — Section 106(2)
- Sexual intercourse by a false promise to marry — Section 69
- Community service as a new form of punishment for certain petty offences
What the BNS leaves behind
- Sedition: the word no longer exists; old IPC 124A is recast as Section 152 BNS.
- Adultery (old IPC 497): not carried forward (struck down in Joseph Shine, 2018).
- Attempt to suicide (general IPC 309): not carried forward as a standalone crime.
What this means for your preparation
- Criminal Law papers now follow the BNS.
- Law of Evidence answers should cite the BSA.
- Criminal Procedure topics (Zero FIR, e-FIR, forensic mandates, timelines) come from the BNSS.
- Judicial-service syllabi have been revised to the new statutes.
Get exam-ready with Allahabad Law Agency: our New Criminal Laws range — bare acts and student editions of the BNS, BNSS and BSA — carries the complete, authoritative section-by-section concordance. Browse the New Criminal Laws collection on allahabadlawagency.com.
Frequently asked questions
Is the IPC still valid in 2026?
Only for offences committed on or before 30 June 2024.
What is Section 302 IPC in the BNS?
Punishment for murder is now Section 103 BNS.
What is Section 420 IPC in the BNS?
Cheating is now Section 318 BNS.
How many sections does the BNS have?
358 sections, compared with 511 in the IPC.
Does any IPC section keep the same number in the BNS?
No — the numbering was completely reorganised.
Disclaimer: This conversion table is for educational and exam-preparation purposes only and is not legal advice. Always rely on the current bare act and consult a qualified advocate for any specific matter.
