A Comparative Analysis Of The BNS Code, 2023 And Indian Penal Code, 1860

Akshay Sreevatsa, B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), NLSIU, Bengaluru & LL.M., UC Berkeley School of Law, USA

ABSTRACT:

This paper focuses on the modernization of India’s colonial era Law, the Indian Penal Code, 1860 by the newly formulated Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (‘BNS’) which will enter into force on July 1st, 2024. This theme emphasizes how the BNS proposes to update the IPC to reflect contemporary societal needs and address the shortcomings in the existing Penal Code.

The BNS Code improves upon several major areas in the IPC and replaces them with provisions and norms that are in line with the needs of contemporary Indian society reflects the values that underpin it. This paper seeks to traverse these changes, and its scope is limited to the positive changes and modernization traverses only such topics as relevant to this scope.

This paper comment provides some background into the new BNS Code, its contents and applicability, and thereafter seeks to explore the modernisations and reforms that it brings about in greater detail, evaluate their suitability, and assess their potential impact when they are brought into force.