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International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management

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ISSN: 3108-1754 (Online)
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Volume 02, Issue 6

Published on: June 2026

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860 AND THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023 (BNS)

Rakesh Verma Priya Sharma

J&K Forest Services.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i6.409

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Abstract

The Indian criminal justice system underwent a historic transformation with the enactment of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which repealed and replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860—a colonial-era statute that had governed India's substantive criminal law for over 160 years. This paper presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of the IPC and the BNS, examining structural, substantive, and conceptual changes introduced by the new legislation. The analysis covers modifications in definitions, the introduction of new offences, the deletion of obsolete provisions, enhanced punishments, and the philosophical shift toward restorative justice. The paper argues that while the BNS represents a significant step toward decolonizing and modernizing India's criminal law, its success depends on effective implementation, judicial interpretation, and addressing lingering concerns regarding ambiguity, gender neutrality, and potential misuse. The transition from the IPC to the BNS reflects India's aspiration to replace colonial legal frameworks with laws rooted in contemporary Indian values and realities.

Keywords: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Indian Penal Code, Criminal Law Reform, Comparative Analysis, Restorative Justice, Decolonization

How to Cite this Paper

Verma, R. & Sharma, P. (2026). Comparative Analysis of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS). International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, <i>02</i>(6). https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i6.409

Verma, Rakesh, and Priya Sharma. "Comparative Analysis of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS)." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, vol. 02, no. 6, 2026, pp. . doi:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i6.409.

Verma, Rakesh, and Priya Sharma. "Comparative Analysis of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS)." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management 02, no. 6 (2026). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i6.409.

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References


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  • •Published on: Jun 30 2026
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