Name: Open Acts — Indian Statutory and Jurisprudential Dataset
Creator: Open Acts
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Question 1

What is the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023?

Accepted Answer

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 is India's new substantive criminal code that officially replaced the British-era Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860. It consists of 358 sections, introducing modern definitions for organised crime, cyber fraud, snatching, terrorism, and community service penalties.

Question 2

Which section in BNS replaced IPC Section 420 (Cheating)?

Accepted Answer

IPC Section 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) has been replaced by Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, punishable with imprisonment up to seven years and a fine.

Question 3

Which section in BNS replaced IPC Section 302 (Murder)?

Accepted Answer

IPC Section 302 (Punishment for murder) has been replaced by Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023. Additionally, Section 103(2) prescribes the death penalty or life imprisonment for mob lynching committed by five or more persons on grounds of race, caste, or religion.

Question 4

What is the new Zero FIR provision in BNSS 2023?

Accepted Answer

Under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, every police station is legally required to register an FIR irrespective of whether the offence occurred in its territorial jurisdiction (Zero FIR) and forward it within 24 hours. Electronic FIR (e-FIR) is also recognized.

Question 5

Is Open Acts completely free for law students, advocates, and Indian citizens?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Open Acts is 100% free with no subscription or login paywalls, providing unrestricted access to 19,849+ Indian Bare Acts, Supreme Court judgments, IRRAC digests, and side-by-side English to Hindi translations.

Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act, 2026 — Official Bare Act PDF