Name: Open Acts — Indian Statutory and Jurisprudential Dataset
Creator: Open Acts
License: https://openacts.in/terms

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IPC Section 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) has been replaced by Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, punishable with imprisonment up to seven years and a fine.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IPC Section 302 (Punishment for murder) has been replaced by Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.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.

IPC 1860	BNS 2023	Offence Name	Prescribed Punishment
302	103(1)	Punishment for Murder	Death or Life Imprisonment + Fine
304	105	Culpable Homicide Not Amounting to Murder	Life Imprisonment or up to 10 Years + Fine
304A	106(1), 106(2)	Death by Negligence (Hit & Run)	Up to 5 yrs (106(1)) / Up to 10 yrs if escaping (106(2))
304B	80	Dowry Death	Imprisonment not less than 7 years up to Life
307	109	Attempt to Murder	Up to 10 Years / Life if hurt caused + Fine
375 / 376	63 / 64	Rape & Punishment	Rigorous 10 Years up to Life + Fine
415 / 420	318(1), 318(4)	Cheating & Dishonestly Inducing Delivery	Imprisonment up to 7 Years + Fine
499 / 500	356	Defamation	Simple Imprisonment up to 2 Years or Community Service
124A (Repealed)	152	Acts Endangering Sovereignty of India	Imprisonment for Life or up to 7 Years + Fine

BNS vs IPC

BNS vs IPC Key Section Concordance