Do I need to relearn criminal procedure from scratch under the BNSS?

No — the core structure and most rules carry over. What's needed is learning the renumbering and the genuinely new additions (timelines, mandatory forensics for serious offences, formal digital process), not the whole subject from zero.

Are CrPC cases filed before 1 July 2024 still governed by the CrPC?

Generally, ongoing matters continue under the law they were filed under unless a court directs otherwise, though transitional provisions and court practice can vary by case type — confirm the specific position with an advocate for an active matter.

Where can I look up a specific CrPC section's BNSS equivalent?

Use DharaSetu's CrPC-to-BNSS converter — it maps the full section table so you can look up any old section number and get the current one instantly.

Law transition 6 min read

CrPC vs BNSS: What Actually Changed in Criminal Procedure

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) as India's criminal procedure law from 1 July 2024. Unlike the IPC-to-BNS change (which touched substantive offences), the BNSS is procedural — it governs how a case actually moves through investigation, arrest, bail, trial and appeal. Most of the CrPC's core machinery carries forward with renumbered sections, but a real set of changes were added, not just renamed.

CrPC → BNSS ConverterOpen →

What stayed the same

The overall architecture — FIR registration, investigation, chargesheet, cognizance, framing of charge, trial, judgment, appeal — is unchanged in concept. Bailable/non-bailable and cognizable/non-cognizable classifications still exist and still work the same way. Most CrPC sections map to a renumbered BNSS section with the same substantive rule, which is why converting an old CrPC citation to its BNSS equivalent (rather than relearning procedure from scratch) is usually the right approach for practitioners.

Timelines added throughout the process

The BNSS adds explicit time limits at several stages that the CrPC left more open-ended — for example, requirements around informing the status of a case to the informant/victim, and timelines for a court to decide on framing of charge after receipt of the case, and for pronouncing judgment after arguments conclude. The overall intent, as stated when the law was introduced, is to reduce delay; whether it achieves that in practice will depend on court capacity and implementation, not the text alone.

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Mandatory forensic investigation for serious offences

For offences punishable with 7 years or more, the BNSS requires forensic experts to visit the crime scene to collect evidence and, where possible, for the process to be video-recorded. This is a genuinely new procedural requirement without a direct CrPC equivalent, intended to strengthen evidence quality and reduce reliance on witness testimony alone — states are phasing in the forensic infrastructure needed to support it.

Digital and electronic process formally recognised

The BNSS gives clearer statutory footing to electronic filing, service of summons via electronic means, video-conferencing for certain proceedings, and audio-video recording of search and seizure — practices that grew informally during and after the pandemic now have a firmer procedural basis. Zero FIR (filing an FIR at any police station regardless of where the offence occurred, then transferring it to the correct jurisdiction) is also formally codified.

Undertrial release and bail changes

Bail procedure itself moved from Sections 436-450 CrPC to renumbered BNSS provisions, and a first-time undertrial release provision (Section 479 BNSS) was added — covered in detail in DharaSetu's bail-changes guide. See our types-of-bail explainer for how regular, anticipatory, interim and default bail each map to their current BNSS sections.

Frequently asked

Do I need to relearn criminal procedure from scratch under the BNSS?: No — the core structure and most rules carry over. What's needed is learning the renumbering and the genuinely new additions (timelines, mandatory forensics for serious offences, formal digital process), not the whole subject from zero.
Are CrPC cases filed before 1 July 2024 still governed by the CrPC?: Generally, ongoing matters continue under the law they were filed under unless a court directs otherwise, though transitional provisions and court practice can vary by case type — confirm the specific position with an advocate for an active matter.
Where can I look up a specific CrPC section's BNSS equivalent?: Use DharaSetu's CrPC-to-BNSS converter — it maps the full section table so you can look up any old section number and get the current one instantly.

Reference only — not legal advice. Verify with the official bare act and consult an advocate.

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