A Comparative Analysis of BNS and IPC

References

[1] Ratanlal and Dhirajlal, The Indian Penal Code, 36th edn, LexisNexis, Gurgaon, 2022, p. 1.

[2] B.B. Pande, “Revisiting Penal Policy through Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita”, (2024) 66(2) Journal of the Indian Law Institute 123.

[3] Ratanlal and Dhirajlal, The Indian Penal Code, 36th edn, LexisNexis, 2022, p. 1.

[4] S.N. Mishra, Indian Penal Code, 22nd edn, Central Law Publications, 2023, p. 4.

[5] Law Commission of India, Report No. 262: Effective Justice System, 2015, p. 10.

[6] Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013.

[7] Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, (2018) 10 SCC 1.

[8] Ministry of Home Affairs, Press Release on New Criminal Codes, August 2023.

[9] Indian Civil Liberties Union, Critical Review of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, p. 15.

[10] B.B. Pande, “Sedition and the BNS: Discontinuity or Continuity?”, (2024) 66(4) JILI 190.

[11] Indian Penal Code, 1860, Act 45 of 1860, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India.

[12] S.C. Manchanda, Comparative Criminal Law: IPC vs Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Eastern Law House, 2021).

[13] R.P. Meena, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: An Emerging Framework of Justice (Satyam Law International, 2020).

[14] A.K. Jain, Criminal Law in India: A Historical Perspective (LexisNexis, 2018).

[15] M.P. Jain, Indian Penal Code and Its Application: A Practical Approach (Universal Law Publishing, 2020).

[16] S.C. Manchanda, Comparative Criminal Law: IPC vs Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Eastern Law House, 2021).

[17] C.K. Thakkar, Criminal Law in India: Evolution and Reform (Oxford University Press, 2019).

[18] R.P. Meena, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: An Emerging Framework of Justice (Satyam Law International, 2020).

[19] Ratanlal & Dhirajlal, The Indian Penal Code, 37th edn (LexisNexis 2020) 1.

[20] K D Gaur, Textbook on Indian Penal Code, 6th edn (Universal Law Publishing 2019) 25–30.

[21] H S Gour, The Penal Law of India, Vol 1, 11th edn (Law Publishers India Pvt. Ltd. 2019) 45.

[22] B M Gandhi, Indian Penal Code, 5th edn (Eastern Book Company 2021) 18–21.

[23] Ratanlal & Dhirajlal, The Indian Penal Code, 37th edn (LexisNexis 2020) xxvii.

[24] K D Gaur (n 3) 45.

[25] K.D. Gaur, Textbook on Indian Penal Code, 7th edn, Universal Law Publishing, Delhi, 2023, pp. 112–119.

[26] S.N. Misra, Commentary on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Central Law Publications, Allahabad, 2024, pp. 210–216.

[27] Ratanlal & Dhirajlal, The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: Commentary, supra n. 2, pp. 410–418.

[28] K.D. Gaur, Textbook on the Indian Penal Code, 8th edn., Universal Law Publishing, 2021, p. 113.

[29] K. Iyer, Introduction to Criminal Law in India, 2nd edn., Cambridge University Press, 2023, p. 134.

[30] Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, § 154.

[31] Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, § 157.

[32] Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, § 243.

[33] S.K. Verma, Criminal Procedure Code and the Role of Judiciary in India (2nd ed., Eastern Law House, 2017).

[34] R. Chandrasekharan, Enforcement of Criminal Laws in India (1st ed., Universal Law Publishing, 2016).

[35] R. B. Sanyal, The Role of Judiciary and Law Enforcement in Crime Prevention (3rd ed., Eastern Law House, 2015).

[36] V.P. Srivastava, Law Enforcement in India: Historical Perspectives and Modern Developments (1st ed., Bookwell Publishers, 2019).

[37] V.P. Srivastava, Law Enforcement in India: Historical Perspectives and Modern Developments (1st ed., Bookwell Publishers, 2019).

[38] Rajeev S. Pandey, The Future of Indian Criminal Justice: Speed and Efficiency (1st ed., Judicial Press, 2019). Bibliography Books

[39] Baxi, U. The Indian Penal Code: A Socio-Legal Study. Oxford University Press, 2010.

[40] Gupta, S. K. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: A Comparative Perspective. Eastern Book Company, 2022.

[41] Kumar, R. Understanding Criminal Law in India: A Comparative Study. Oxford University Press, 2019.

[42] Mehta, P. Criminal Law and the Constitution: A Historical Perspective. Cambridge University Press, 2018.

[43] Singh, J. Criminal Justice in India: A Critical Evaluation of Legal Systems. SAGE Publications, 2015.

[44] Tiwari, S. Reforms in Indian Criminal Law: The Role of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Universal Law Publishing, 2023.

[45] Patel, A. The Indian Penal Code and Modern Crime: Adapting to Change. Routledge, 2017.

[46] Vashist, M. Legal and Social Implications of Criminal Law in India. Routledge, 2016.

[47] Chopra, R. Indian Penal Code and Crime Prevention: A Critical Study. Bharat Law House, 2018.

[48] Reddy, S. Criminal Law in India: An Evolutionary Overview. SAGE Publications, 2020.

[49] Thakur, K. Comparative Criminal Law in India: The IPC and the BNS. Allied Publishers, 2021.

[50] Chandra, N. Gender Justice and the Indian Penal Code. Eastern Book Company, 2019.

[51] Desai, V. International Perspectives on Penal Codes and Crime. Oxford University Press, 2017.

[52] Kohli, A. Indian Criminal Law and its Impact on Society. Cambridge University Press, 2019.

[53] Singh, R. Punishments Under the Indian Penal Code. S. Chand Publications, 2021.

[54] Sinha, D. Constitutional Approach to Criminal Law in India. LexisNexis, 2018. Journal Articles

[55] Gupta, S. “The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: A New Chapter in Criminal Law.” Journal of Indian Law and Society, vol. 24, no. 2, 2022, pp. 123-145.

[56] Rao, S. “Criminal Justice Reform: An Analysis of the IPC and BNS.” Indian Law Review, vol. 38, no. 4, 2021, pp. 207-223.

[57] Saran, V. “Comparative Analysis of Crime Classification Under the IPC and BNS.” Legal Review of Indian Criminal Law, vol. 33, no. 1, 2020, pp. 56-78.

[58] Desai, R. “Restorative Justice and its Application Under Indian Law.” Indian Journal of Criminal Law, vol. 49, no. 1, 2019, pp. 115-130.

[59] Kumar, N. “Gender Justice in the Context of Criminal Law: A Critical Approach to IPC and BNS.” Indian Feminist Law Review, vol. 14, no. 2, 2020, pp. 45-67.

[60] Sharma, P. “The Role of Law Enforcement in the Indian Penal System.” Criminal Law Review, vol. 19, no. 3, 2021, pp. 88-112.

[61] Raghav, P. “The Evolution of Criminal Law in India: IPC and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.” Legal Evolution Journal, vol. 12, no. 3, 2021, pp. 101-119.

[62] Shukla, V. “Challenges in Reforming the IPC: A Comparative View.” Indian Legal and Policy Review, vol. 31, no. 2, 2020, pp. 23-43. Reports and Publications

[63] National Law Commission of India. Report on Reform of Criminal Law and the Indian Penal Code. Government of India, 2021.

[64] Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: Concept and Provisions. 2022.

[65] Law Commission of India. Indian Penal Code: A Review. Report No. 267, 2015.

[66] Government of India. Criminal Law Reforms: A Modern Perspective. Ministry of Law and Justice, 2020.

[67] Law Ministry. Criminal Justice System in India: Challenges and Solutions. 2019.

[68] UNODC. India’s Penal Code: Comparative Study with International Norms. United Nations, 2018.

[69] Indian Government. The Need for a New Penal Code: A Proposal for Reform. Ministry of Justice, 2021.

[70] National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Annual Report on Crime Statistics in India. 2020.

[71] International Justice Program. The Role of the Indian Penal Code in International Law. UN, 2021.

[72] Ministry of Home Affairs, India. The Role of Law Enforcement in Modern Criminal Law. 2021.

[73] India Penal Code Reform Initiative. A Comparative Study with Global Legal Frameworks. Law Commission, 2022.

[74] National Human Rights Commission. Human Rights and Criminal Justice Reform in India. 2020.

[75] Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Criminal Law and National Security: An Overview. 2019. Legislation and Legal Texts

[76] Indian Penal Code, 1860, Government of India.

[77] Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2020, Government of India.

[78] Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, Government of India.

[79] Indian Evidence Act, 1872, Government of India.

[80] Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Government of India.

[81] Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, Government of India.

[82] Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, Government of India.

[83] The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, Government of India.

[84] The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, Government of India.

[85] The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, Government of India.

[86] The Information Technology Act, 2000, Government of India.

[87] The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, Government of India.

[88] The Arms Act, 1959, Government of India.

[89] The National Security Act, 1980, Government of India.

[90] The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, Government of India.

[91] The National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, Government of India.

[92] The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987, Government of India.

[93] The Indian Extradition Act, 1962, Government of India.

[94] The Public Safety Act, 1978, Jammu & Kashmir.

[95] The Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Government of India.

[96] Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. “The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2020 – An Overview.” Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Available at: https://lawmin.gov.in

[97] India Law Journal. “The Role of Law Enforcement in the Indian Penal System.” India Law Journal, 2022. Available at: https://indialawjournal.org

[98] National Law University, Delhi. “Reform of the Indian Penal Code: A Comparative Analysis with International Legal Frameworks.” NLU Delhi Publications, 2021. Available at: https://nludelhi.ac.in

[99] Legal Service India. “Comparative Analysis of Indian Penal Code and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.” Legal Service India. Available at: https://legalserviceindia.com

[100] Times of India. “Criminal Law Reform: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita vs. IPC.” Times of India, 2022. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

[101] Indian Penal Code Reform Commission. “IPC Reforms: A Roadmap for a Better Legal Framework.” IPC Reform Commission, Government of India, 2021. Available at: https://ipc-reforms.gov.in

[102] The Hindu. “India's Penal Code: A Comparative Look at the New and Old Systems.” The Hindu, 2022. Available at: https://thehindu.com

[103] ResearchGate. “Reforming Indian Criminal Law: A Comparative Study of IPC and BNS.” ResearchGate, 2021. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net

[104] The Wire. “Analyzing the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: A Revolutionary Approach to Criminal Justice.” The Wire, 2022. Available at: https://thewire.in

[105] Academia.edu. “Comparing Indian Penal Code and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: A Legal Perspective.” Academia.edu, 2021. Available at: https://www.academia.edu

[106] Lawctopus. “Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: Reforms in Criminal Law of India.” Lawctopus, 2022. Available at: https://lawctopus.com

[107] Indian Express. “Understanding the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and its Implications on Criminal Law.” Indian Express, 2022. Available at: https://indianexpress.com

[108] LiveLaw. “Reforming Criminal Law: The Impact of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on Indian Legal System.” LiveLaw, 2022. Available at: https://livelaw.in

[109] The Economic Times. “Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill: Key Provisions and Their Impact.” The Economic Times, 2021. Available at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com

[110] India Today. “Comparing Criminal Law Frameworks: IPC vs Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.” India Today, 2022. Available at: https://indiatoday.in

[111] Government of India - Ministry of Home Affairs. “Law Enforcement and the Role of Criminal Procedure.” Government of India, 2021. Available at: https://mha.gov.in

[112] Law Ministry - India. “Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: Key Legal Reforms.” Law Ministry, India, 2022. Available at: https://lawmin.nic.in

[113] The National Crime Records Bureau. “Annual Crime Report: Trends and Insights into India’s Criminal Justice System.” NCRB Reports, 2020. Available at: https://ncrb.gov.in

@article{1708680,
      author = {Karan Khanna, Shailja Khosla},
      title = {A Comparative Analysis of BNS and IPC},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2025},
      volume = {8},
      number = {11},
      pages = {1740-1777},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1708680.pdf},
      abstract = {The Indian Penal Code (IPC), which was enacted in 1860 during British colonial rule, has been the pillar of India's criminal justice system for more than 160 years. Yet, with the changing social, political, and technological environment, there has been a growing necessity to modernize and indigenize the criminal law regime. To meet this requirement, the Government of India enacted the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) to supplant the IPC and embody Indian values, constitutional principles, and developments in international law. This dissertation undertakes an exhaustive comparative analysis of the BNS and the IPC based on the pivotal structural, procedural, and material changes. It points to the change in jurisprudence of the law, more victim-focussed provisions, demystification of legalese, and integration of newer crimes like cybercrimes and terrorism. It also inquiries into continuity of the kernel criminal principles as well as challenge of implementing the new regime. The research also scrutinizes the constitutional validity, socio-legal dimensions, and functional enforceability of BNS compared to the pre-independence colonial-era IPC. This work based on doctrinal study, comparative statutes, judicial scrutiny, and empirical observations strives to critically analyse whether BNS is just a symbolic renaming or a real reformative jump toward a more equitable, efficient, and citizen-friendly criminal justice system. The dissertation ends with policy recommendations and advice to facilitate a seamless shift from IPC to BNS, stressing the need for judicial readiness, legal pedagogy, and public sensitization.},
      keywords = {Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, Indian Penal Code, Criminal Law Reform, Comparative Analysis, Penal Provisions, Procedural Law, Substantive Criminal Law, Victim-Centric Justice, Legal Modernization, Colonial Laws, Indian Constitution, Cybercrime, Terrorism, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, Justice System, Human Rights, Law Enforcement, Judicial Reforms, Criminal Justice System},
      month = {May},
  }