IPC to BNS: What Changed on 1 July 2024
India replaced its three core criminal laws in 2024. The Indian Penal Code, 1860 became the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023; the Code of Criminal Procedure became the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS); and the Indian Evidence Act became the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). All three came into force on 1 July 2024.
IPC → BNS ConverterOpen →Do old cases move to the BNS?
No. Offences committed before 1 July 2024 continue to be tried under the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act as they stood at the time. The BNS/BNSS/BSA apply to offences committed on or after 1 July 2024. This is why courts and lawyers still work with both the old and new codes side by side — and why a reliable section map matters.
The sections are renumbered
The BNS reorganises and renumbers offences. Familiar numbers change: murder moves from IPC 302 to BNS 103(1); cheating from IPC 420 to BNS 318(4); criminal breach of trust from IPC 406 to BNS 316(2). Some provisions merge and a few are dropped, so a one-to-one lookup is essential rather than memory.
How to read a mixed-code file
When you receive an FIR or order, check the date of the offence first. If it is before 1 July 2024, the IPC numbers apply; on or after, the BNS numbers apply. Use the DharaSetu converter to move between the two in either direction, and always verify the mapping against the official bare act before relying on it.
Frequently asked
- Is the IPC completely repealed?
- The IPC is repealed for new offences from 1 July 2024, but it still governs offences committed before that date, so it remains in active use in ongoing trials and appeals.
- Which BNS section replaces IPC 302?
- IPC Section 302 (punishment for murder) corresponds to Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Reference only — not legal advice. Verify with the official bare act and consult an advocate.