Higher conviction in cases after full implementation of new criminal laws: Home Minister Shah

One year after the three new criminal laws came into force on July 1, 2024, official assessments indicate that conviction rates in criminal cases have improv...

What Happened

One year after the three new criminal laws came into force on July 1, 2024, official assessments indicate that conviction rates in criminal cases have improved following full implementation.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) 1973, and Indian Evidence Act 1872, respectively.
Key reforms — mandatory forensic evidence collection for serious offences, use of digital/electronic evidence, video-recorded trials, and a 90-day victim update rule — are credited with improving investigation quality and case outcomes.
The Union Home Ministry has called the three laws one of the most significant criminal justice overhauls in independent India's history.

Static Topic Bridges

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) — Replacing the IPC

The BNS came into force on July 1, 2024, replacing the Indian Penal Code, 1860 — a 164-year-old colonial statute. The BNS contains 358 sections across 20 chapters and introduces several new offence categories that were absent from the IPC.

Organised crime (Section 111) and petty organised crime (Section 112) are new offences covering kidnapping, extortion, and cybercrime on behalf of a crime syndicate.
Terrorism (Section 113) is newly defined in the BNS as acts threatening national unity, integrity, security, economic security, or causing terror among the population.
Sedition removed: IPC Section 124A (sedition) is abolished. In its place, BNS Section 152 penalises acts that incite secession, armed rebellion, or endangerment of sovereignty, unity, and integrity — with a narrower and more precisely defined scope.
Mob lynching and hit-and-run are introduced as specific offences.
Crimes against women and children are given priority in a dedicated Chapter V.

Connection to this news: Improved conviction rates are partly attributed to BNS's precise offence definitions, which reduce ambiguity during prosecution and trial.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) — Replacing the CrPC

The BNSS replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, modernising the procedural framework for criminal investigation, trial, and appeals. Key reforms focus on technology integration and victim rights.

Mandatory forensic evidence collection: For offences punishable with 7 years or more imprisonment, forensic teams must visit the crime scene to collect scientific evidence. States have up to 5 years (by approximately 2029) to make this fully operational.
Electronic/video trials: Trials, hearings, inquiries, and service of summons may be conducted electronically or via audio-video means.
90-day victim update rule: Police must inform victims of investigation progress within 90 days.
Zero FIR: A complaint may be filed at any police station regardless of jurisdiction (Zero FIR), and transferred to the appropriate station.
Timeline for judgments: Courts must deliver judgment within 45 days of completing arguments.

Connection to this news: The forensic mandate and structured timelines are directly linked to the improvement in conviction rates reported after one year of implementation.

Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) — Replacing the Evidence Act

The BSA replaces the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and substantially elevates the evidentiary status of digital and electronic records, reflecting the realities of modern crime and investigation.

Electronic records are now treated as primary evidence (not secondary evidence as under the old Act).
Includes provisions for admissibility of electronic communications, CCTV footage, and device-generated data.
Maintains core evidentiary principles (burden of proof, hearsay exclusions, expert opinion) from the 1872 Act while updating them for the digital era.
Received Presidential assent on December 25, 2023, along with BNS and BNSS.

Connection to this news: The BSA's elevation of digital evidence to primary status has strengthened prosecution in cybercrime, financial fraud, and violence cases — contributing to improved conviction outcomes.

Colonial Legacy and Criminal Justice Reform

The three colonial-era laws — IPC (1860), CrPC (1973), and the Evidence Act (1872) — were drafted during British rule, primarily to serve administrative control rather than deliver justice to citizens. Criminal justice reform has been a longstanding demand, with multiple Law Commission reports recommending changes since independence.

The Malimath Committee on Reforms of the Criminal Justice System (2003) had recommended several changes now incorporated in the BNSS.
India's conviction rate under the old regime was historically below 50% in sessions courts.
The new laws collectively prioritise "justice" (nyaya) and "citizen protection" (nagarik suraksha) in their nomenclature, symbolising a philosophical shift.

Connection to this news: The one-year milestone provides early evidence that structural changes to procedure and evidence law can measurably improve justice delivery outcomes.

Key Facts & Data

BNS replaced IPC (1860); BNSS replaced CrPC (1973); BSA replaced Indian Evidence Act (1872)
All three received Presidential assent: December 25, 2023
Came into force: July 1, 2024
BNS: 358 sections, 20 chapters
New offences in BNS: organised crime (S.111), petty organised crime (S.112), terrorism (S.113), mob lynching, hit-and-run
Sedition (IPC S.124A) replaced by BNS S.152 (acts endangering sovereignty/unity/integrity)
Forensic team mandatory for offences with 7+ years punishment (full rollout by ~2029)
Judgment must be delivered within 45 days of completing arguments (BNSS)
Electronic records now primary evidence under BSA