What replaced the IPC? (BNS 2023 explained)

By the India Law Simplified editorial team · Verified against the bare Acts & official portals · Updated 2026-08-18 · ~8 min read

⚡ Quick answer

From 1 July 2024, India replaced its three colonial-era criminal laws with new ones. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 replaced the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023 replaced the Indian Evidence Act. The section numbers changed — for example, cheating under IPC 420 is now BNS 318(4), and murder under IPC 302 is now BNS 103.

Find any BNS section free →

On 1 July 2024, India's criminal justice system changed at its foundation. The IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act — laws written under British rule over 150 years ago — were replaced by three new codes. If you've heard a section number that no longer matches, or you're wondering whether the old law still applies to a past case, this guide explains the change in plain language: what replaced what, why it matters, and how to find the new section for an old one.

1The three new codes

The change wasn't just a rename — three separate laws were replaced, each covering a different part of criminal justice:

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 — replaced the Indian Penal Code. It defines the offences and their punishments.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 — replaced the CrPC. It governs procedure: FIR, arrest, bail, investigation and trial.
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023 — replaced the Indian Evidence Act. It governs what evidence is admissible in court.

2What actually changed

Beyond the names, the new codes brought real changes:

Renumbered and reorganised sections (so old IPC numbers no longer match)
New offences — including organised crime, terrorism and mob lynching, defined in the code itself
A bigger role for technology — electronic FIRs, digital evidence and video recording of certain processes
Timelines for investigation and trial steps, aimed at faster justice

⚠️ ImportantMany offences are substantively similar to the old law — the act that was a crime before is usually still a crime. What changed most is the numbering, the procedure and the language.

3Common IPC → BNS section changes

Some of the most-searched section changes:

Cheating: IPC 420 → BNS 318(4)
Murder: IPC 302 → BNS 103
Rape: IPC 376 → BNS 64
Cruelty by husband/relatives: IPC 498A → BNS 85
Defamation: IPC 499/500 → BNS 356

💡 ExampleIf someone tells you 'an FIR has been filed under Section 420', that offence (cheating) is now registered under BNS 318(4) for incidents on or after 1 July 2024. Use an IPC-to-BNS converter to translate any old section to its new equivalent.

4Does the old law still apply?

Yes — for the past. The IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act still apply to offences committed before 1 July 2024 and to cases already pending on that date. The new BNS/BNSS/BSA apply to offences committed on or after 1 July 2024. So for a transition period, both systems run in parallel depending on when the offence happened.

5The mappings that are most often got wrong

Renumbering is where published guidance is least reliable, because a great deal of it was written quickly in 2024 and never corrected. A few are worth knowing precisely.

IPC 302 (murder) → BNS 103
IPC 420 (cheating) → BNS 318(4)
IPC 379 (theft) → BNS 303(2)
IPC 376 (rape) → BNS 64
IPC 353 (assault to deter a public servant) → BNS 132 — frequently misquoted as 121
IPC 448 (house-trespass) → BNS 329(4) — frequently misquoted as 331

⚠️ ImportantWhere a source gives you a BNS number for a charge that matters, check it against the bare act. The cost of citing the wrong section in a complaint or a bail application is real.

6What is genuinely new, rather than renumbered

Most of the BNS is the IPC rearranged. A small number of provisions are actually new law.

Organised crime and petty organised crime are now offences in their own right under sections 111 and 112, as is terrorism under section 113 — matters previously left to special legislation. Mob lynching is dealt with expressly, and snatching is separated from ordinary theft under section 304.

Community service appears for the first time as a punishment, and it is available for exactly six offences: sections 202, 209, 226, 303(2), 355 and 356(2). It is not a general sentencing option, which is a common misreading.

7Sedition is repealed, but section 152 is not simply a rename

The old offence of sedition under IPC 124A has no successor in the BNS. Section 152 is often described as sedition renamed, and that description is misleading in both directions.

Section 152 penalises acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India — exciting secession, armed rebellion, subversive activities or separatist feeling. Disaffection towards the government, which was the heart of 124A, is not the test.

The punishment is also different: imprisonment for life, or up to seven years, with fine. Under 124A the alternative term was three years. So the offence is narrower in what it covers and heavier where it applies.

⚠️ ImportantA separate change worth knowing: the exception for marital intercourse in the rape provision now applies where the wife is under eighteen, raised from fifteen.

8The procedural changes that affect ordinary people most

The BNS gets the attention, but for most people it is the BNSS — which replaced the Criminal Procedure Code — that changes the everyday experience of the system.

A Zero FIR now has statutory footing: under section 173(1) a police station must register an FIR regardless of where the offence took place, and transfer it to the station with jurisdiction. Refusing on territorial grounds is no longer defensible. Information can also be given electronically, signed within three days.

The complainant must be told the progress of the investigation within ninety days. And for offences punishable with seven years or more, forensic examination of the crime scene is mandatory rather than discretionary.

⚠️ ImportantA preliminary enquiry before registering an FIR is permitted for offences punishable between three and seven years, must have the permission of an officer of DSP rank, and must be completed within fourteen days.

Key takeaways

From 1 July 2024, BNS replaced the IPC, BNSS replaced the CrPC, and BSA replaced the Evidence Act.
Section numbers changed — e.g. IPC 420 → BNS 318(4), IPC 302 → BNS 103.
New offences (organised crime, mob lynching) and more technology/timelines were added.
The substance of most offences is similar; numbering, procedure and language changed most.
The old laws still apply to offences committed before 1 July 2024 and pending cases.

Frequently asked questions

Is IPC still valid after BNS?

Yes, for the past — the IPC continues to apply to offences committed before 1 July 2024 and to cases already pending. For anything on or after that date, the BNS applies. Both coexist during the transition.

What is IPC 420 in the BNS?

Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property (IPC Section 420) is now Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.

Do I need to re-learn all the section numbers?

Only for new cases. For day-to-day reference, an IPC-to-BNS converter lets you type an old section and get the new one instantly, which is the practical way to handle the change.

Are the punishments different under the BNS?

For many offences the punishment is similar to the IPC, but the BNS revised some penalties, added community service for petty offences, and created new offences with their own punishments. Always check the specific BNS section.

My case started before 1 July 2024 — which law applies?

The old one. Offences committed before 1 July 2024 are tried under the IPC, and pending investigations, trials and appeals continue under the CrPC and the Evidence Act. The date of the offence governs, not the date of the FIR, so cases under both regimes will run in parallel for years.

Is sedition still an offence?

No. IPC 124A was repealed with no direct successor. Section 152 of the BNS is a different offence — acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, such as exciting secession or armed rebellion. Disaffection towards the government, which was the core of sedition, is not the test. The punishment is life or up to seven years.

What is community service under the BNS?

A new form of punishment, available for exactly six offences: sections 202, 209, 226, 303(2), 355 and 356(2). It is not a general alternative to imprisonment that a court can apply to any offence, which is how it is often described. The BNS itself does not define what the service must consist of.

A table says IPC 353 is now BNS 121. Is that right?

No. The correct mapping is section 132 — assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging duty. The 121 figure circulates widely and is a different offence entirely. Where a section number matters for a complaint or a bail application, check it against the bare act rather than a summary table.

Did the BNS change anything about marital rape?

It did not create the offence, but it did raise the age in the exception. The exception for intercourse by a man with his own wife now applies where she is under eighteen, raised from fifteen. Above that age the exception continues, so marital rape remains outside the offence for adult wives.