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The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 replaced the Indian Penal Code 1860 on 1 July 2024. This comparison records what changed, what was carried forward, and how transitional cases are handled.
| Topic | IPC 1860 (repealed) | BNS 2023 (in force) |
|---|---|---|
| Effective Date | In force since 6 October 1860 | Came into force 1 July 2024 |
| Total Sections | 511 sections | 358 sections (consolidated; 21 new provisions) |
| Sedition | Section 124A (kept in abeyance by SC in Kedar Nath, 2022) | Section 152 — reframed as "acts endangering sovereignty" |
| Murder | Section 302 — punishment for murder | Section 103 — same punishment, language modernised |
| Mob Lynching | Prosecuted under §302 read with §149 | Section 103(2) — explicit category, death/life imprisonment |
| Culpable Homicide | Section 304 (Part I + II) | Section 105 (same two-tier structure) |
| Hit and Run | Prosecuted under §304A (causing death by negligence) | Section 106 — graded penalty; 10 years if hit-and-run not reported |
| Rape | Section 375–376 (post-2013 amendments) | Section 63–70 — substantively expanded; new aggravated categories |
| Theft (punishment) | Section 379 — punishment for theft | Section 303(2) |
| Snatching | Prosecuted as theft (§379) or robbery (§390) | Section 304 — new standalone offence |
| Dishonest Misappropriation of Property | Section 403 | Section 314 |
| Criminal Breach of Trust | Section 405–409 (graded by capacity) | Section 316 (consolidated under same gradation) |
| CBT by Carrier | Section 407 | Section 316(3) |
| CBT by Clerk or Servant | Section 408 | Section 316(4) |
| Cheating (punishment) | Section 417 | Section 318(2) |
| Cheating + Dishonest Inducement to Deliver Property | Section 420 — cheating + dishonest property transfer | Section 318(4) — substantially carried forward |
| Fraudulent Removal / Concealment of Property | Section 421 | Section 320 |
| Fraudulent Execution of Deed of Transfer | Section 423 | Section 322 |
| Forgery (definition) | Section 463 | Section 336 |
| Making a False Document | Section 464 | Section 335 |
| Forgery of Valuable Security | Section 467 | Section 338 |
| Forgery for Purpose of Cheating | Section 468 | Section 336(3) |
| Using Forged Document as Genuine | Section 471 | Section 340 |
| Falsification of Accounts | Section 477A | Section 344 |
| Cruelty by Husband / Relatives | Section 498A | Section 85 (offence) read with Section 86 (definition of cruelty) — substance identical; transitional cases use predecessor |
| Terrorist Act | Not defined — UAPA / TADA framework | Section 113 — explicit definition introduced for the first time in penal code |
| Organised Crime | Not defined in IPC | Section 111 — new offence with separate sentencing framework |
Related references: the full Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 bare act, the procedural counterpart BNSS vs CrPC comparison, and the practice note on the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 came into force on 1 July 2024. The IPC 1860 was simultaneously repealed. Cases registered before 1 July 2024 continue to be tried under the IPC; cases registered on or after that date are tried under the BNS.
IPC Section 420 corresponds to Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023. Section 318(4) BNS carries forward IPC Section 420 (cheating coupled with dishonest inducement to deliver property) with substantially the same ingredients and penalty range.
IPC Section 379 (punishment for theft) corresponds to Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023. FIRs registered on or after 1 July 2024 cite Section 303(2) BNS; earlier cases continue under Section 379 IPC.
IPC Section 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property) corresponds to Section 314 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.
IPC Section 467 (forgery of a valuable security) corresponds to Section 338 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023. The related forgery provisions map as IPC 463 to BNS 336, IPC 464 to BNS 335, IPC 468 to BNS 336(3), and IPC 471 to BNS 340.
IPC Section 477A (falsification of accounts) corresponds to Section 344 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.
No — Section 498A IPC was repealed on 1 July 2024. Its successor is Section 85 BNS (read with Section 86, which separately defines "cruelty"), carrying forward the language almost verbatim. Cases registered before 1 July 2024 continue to be prosecuted under Section 498A IPC; new cases are registered under Section 85 BNS.
The BNS introduced first-time codification of organised crime (Section 111), terrorist act in the penal code (Section 113), mob lynching as a distinct offence (Section 103(2)), snatching (Section 304), and a graded hit-and-run framework (Section 106).
Section 358 BNS preserves prosecutions begun under the IPC. Such cases are tried under the IPC provisions in force at the time of the offence. New cases registered on or after 1 July 2024 are tried under BNS provisions.
For litigation that spans the IPC-to-BNS transition or interpretation of the new provisions, contact Unified Chambers and Associates at legal@unifiedchambers.com or +91 84008 60008.