Uttarakhand ranks first in country in effective implementation of new criminal laws
Uttarakhand secured the first position nationally in implementing the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) 2.0, scoring 93.46 on the CCTNS/ICJS Progress Dashboard maintained by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) as of January 2026.
The top five states: Uttarakhand (93.46), Haryana (93.41), Assam (93.16), Sikkim (91.82), Madhya Pradesh (90.55).
The state trained over 23,000 police personnel on the BNS, BNSS, and BSA frameworks, deployed forensic mobile vans, and established real-time data entry protocols.
The "one data, one entry" principle is the backbone of ICJS 2.0 — data entered once in any pillar becomes available across all five pillars without re-entry.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah specifically commended Uttarakhand's efficiency in data integration and digital evidence management.
The New Criminal Laws: BNS, BNSS, and BSA
Three laws enacted by Parliament in December 2023 replaced colonial-era statutes from 1 July 2024: - Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860 — covers 358 sections across 20 chapters (vs. 511 sections in IPC) - Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) replaced the Indian Evidence Act, 1872
Key Details
- BNS adds 20 new offences including terrorism, organised crime, snatching, and cybercrime
- Sedition (Section 124A IPC) removed; replaced by a new provision on acts endangering sovereignty and integrity
- Community service introduced as a punishment for minor offences — first time in Indian criminal law
- BNSS mandates compulsory forensic investigation in crimes punishable with more than 7 years imprisonment
- BNSS enables Zero FIR (registerable at any police station regardless of jurisdiction) and e-FIR
- BSA recognises electronic and digital evidence as primary evidence
- Trial-in-absentia: BNSS allows trial to proceed against proclaimed offenders (those declared fugitives)
- Time-bound charge sheet: Police must file charge sheet within 60–90 days of arrest
Uttarakhand's ICJS 2.0 ranking directly reflects how effectively the state has operationalised these three laws into its police, court, prison, prosecution, and forensics workflows.
Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) 2.0
ICJS is a Ministry of Home Affairs initiative to digitally integrate the five pillars of the criminal justice system: Police (CCTNS), Courts (e-Courts), Prisons (e-Prison), Prosecution (e-Prosecution), and Forensics (e-Forensics). The Union Cabinet approved ICJS Phase II at a total outlay of ₹3,375 crore for 2022-23 to 2025-26.
Key Details
- Phase I: Established CCTNS (Crime and Criminals Tracking Network and Systems) for police data
- Phase II (ICJS 2.0): Builds on CCTNS with full inter-operability across all five pillars
- "One data, one entry" principle: Eliminates duplicate data entry; entered once, available everywhere
- e-Sakshya app: Mandatory crime scene videography with secure digital evidence storage
- Nyaya Shruti: Virtual court hearings infrastructure
- Implementing agency: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under MHA
- Performance tracking: CCTNS/ICJS Progress Dashboard — monthly scores per state
Uttarakhand's score of 93.46 on this dashboard is the measurable outcome of its mission-mode ICJS 2.0 integration alongside BNS/BNSS/BSA implementation.
Digital Infrastructure in Governance (e-Governance Architecture)
ICJS 2.0 exemplifies India's broader Digital India push applied to the justice sector. The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) and subsequently the Digital India Programme have created the backbone infrastructure — National Optical Fibre Network, cloud computing through MeghRaj, and interoperable data standards — enabling platforms like ICJS to function. The CCTNS project, launched in 2009, digitised police station records across India and forms the foundational layer of ICJS 2.0.
Key Details
- CCTNS: Operational since 2009; covers 99%+ police stations
- MHA funds ICJS under Centrally Sponsored Scheme structure
- ICJS 2.0 cost: ₹3,375 crore (2022-23 to 2025-26)
- Interoperability standard: Each pillar system talks to others via defined APIs, enabling real-time case tracking from FIR to conviction
Uttarakhand's success demonstrates that strong political will (CM-level review meetings), staff training at scale (23,000+ personnel), and real-time data protocols together determine a state's ICJS performance score.
- Uttarakhand ICJS 2.0 score: 93.46 (January 2026 data, NCRB dashboard)
- Top 5 states: Uttarakhand (93.46), Haryana (93.41), Assam (93.16), Sikkim (91.82), MP (90.55)
- New criminal laws effective date: 1 July 2024
- BNS: 358 sections, 20 chapters (replaced IPC's 511 sections)
- New offences added in BNS: 20; provisions dropped: 19
- Police personnel trained in Uttarakhand: 23,000+
- ICJS 2.0 budget: ₹3,375 crore (2022-23 to 2025-26)
- BNSS mandate: Forensic investigation compulsory for offences with 7+ year punishment
- Zero FIR provision: Registerable at any police station; must be transferred to jurisdictional station
- e-Sakshya: App for crime scene documentation, linked to ICJS chain-of-evidence