What replaced the IPC? (BNS 2023 explained)

By the India Law Simplified editorial team · Verified against the bare Acts & official portals · Updated 2026-07-28 · ~4 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.

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.