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Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), the Constitution of India, landmark Supreme Court judgments, and downloadable legal drafts — all in one place.
In force from 1 July 2024 · Sourced & cross-checked against official Acts and Indian Kanoon
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS)
India's substantive criminal code — replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860 with effect from 1 July 2024. 20 chapters, 358 sections (Act No. 45 of 2023).
| Chapter | Sections | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| I | 1–3 | Preliminary |
| II | 4–13 | Of Punishments |
| III | 14–44 | General Exceptions (incl. Right of Private Defence, ss. 34–44) |
| IV | 45–62 | Of Abetment, Criminal Conspiracy and Attempt |
| V | 63–99 | Of Offences Against Women and Children |
| VI | 100–146 | Of Offences Affecting the Human Body |
| VII | 147–158 | Of Offences Against the State |
| VIII | 159–168 | Of Offences Relating to the Army, Navy and Air Force |
| IX | 169–177 | Of Offences Relating to Elections |
| X | 178–188 | Of Offences Relating to Coin, Currency-Notes, Bank-Notes and Government Stamps |
| XI | 189–197 | Of Offences Against the Public Tranquillity |
| XII | 198–205 | Of Offences By or Relating to Public Servants |
| XIII | 206–226 | Of Contempts of the Lawful Authority of Public Servants |
| XIV | 227–269 | Of False Evidence and Offences Against Public Justice |
| XV | 270–297 | Of Offences Affecting the Public Health, Safety, Convenience, Decency and Morals |
| XVI | 298–302 | Of Offences Relating to Religion |
| XVII | 303–334 | Of Offences Against Property (Theft, Extortion, Robbery, Dacoity, Criminal Misappropriation, Criminal Breach of Trust, Cheating, Mischief, Trespass) |
| XVIII | 335–350 | Of Offences Relating to Documents and to Property Marks |
| XIX | 351–356 | Of Criminal Intimidation, Insult, Annoyance, Defamation, etc. |
| XX | 357–358 | Repeal and Savings |
Frequently looked-up sections
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS)
India's criminal procedure code — replaced the CrPC, 1973 with effect from 1 July 2024. 39 chapters, 531 sections (Act No. 46 of 2023).
| Chapter | Sections | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| I | 1–5 | Preliminary |
| II | 6–20 | Constitution of Criminal Courts and Offices |
| III | 21–29 | Power of Courts |
| IV | 30–34 | Powers of Superior Officers of Police and Aid to Magistrates and Police |
| V | 35–62 | Arrest of Persons |
| VI | 63–93 | Processes to Compel Appearance (Summons, Warrant, Proclamation) |
| VII | 94–110 | Processes to Compel the Production of Things (incl. Search Warrants) |
| VIII | 111–124 | Reciprocal Arrangements & Attachment/Forfeiture of Property |
| IX | 125–143 | Security for Keeping the Peace and for Good Behaviour |
| X | 144–147 | Order for Maintenance of Wives, Children and Parents |
| XI | 148–167 | Maintenance of Public Order and Tranquillity |
| XII | 168–172 | Preventive Action of the Police |
| XIII | 173–196 | Information to the Police and Their Powers to Investigate |
| XIV | 197–209 | Jurisdiction of the Criminal Courts in Inquiries and Trials |
| XV | 210–222 | Conditions Requisite for Initiation of Proceedings |
| XVI | 223–226 | Complaints to Magistrates |
| XVII | 227–233 | Commencement of Proceedings Before Magistrates |
| XVIII | 234–247 | The Charge |
| XIX | 248–260 | Trial Before a Court of Session |
| XX | 261–273 | Trial of Warrant-Cases by Magistrates |
| XXI | 274–282 | Trial of Summons-Cases by Magistrates |
| XXII | 283–288 | Summary Trials |
| XXIII | 289–300 | Plea Bargaining |
| XXIV | 301–306 | Attendance of Persons Confined or Detained in Prisons |
| XXV | 307–336 | Evidence in Inquiries and Trials |
| XXVI | 337–366 | General Provisions as to Inquiries and Trials |
| XXVII | 367–378 | Provisions as to Accused Persons of Unsound Mind |
| XXVIII | 379–391 | Provisions as to Offences Affecting the Administration of Justice |
| XXIX | 392–406 | The Judgment |
| XXX–XXXIX | 407–531 | Execution, Appeal, Reference & Revision, Transfer of Cases, Bail & Bonds (general provisions), Disposal of Property, Limitation & Miscellaneous — see bare act for exact chapter-wise breakup |
Bail & custody — the sections everyone searches for
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA)
India's law of evidence — replaced the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 with effect from 1 July 2024. 4 parts, 12 chapters, 170 sections (Act No. 47 of 2023).
| Chapter | Sections | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| I | 1–2 | Preliminary |
| II | 3–50 | Relevancy of Facts |
| III | 51–53 | Facts Which Need Not Be Proved |
| IV | 54–55 | Of Oral Evidence |
| V | 56–93 | Of Documentary Evidence (incl. Electronic Records) |
| VI | 94–103 | Of the Exclusion of Oral Evidence by Documentary Evidence |
| VII | 104–120 | Of the Burden of Proof |
| VIII | 121–123 | Estoppel |
| IX | 124–139 | Of Witnesses |
| X | 140–168 | Of Examination of Witnesses |
| XI | 169 | Of Improper Admission and Rejection of Evidence |
| XII | 170 | Repeal and Savings |
Constitution of India — Key Articles
The most frequently cited Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and structural provisions.
| Article | Subject | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Art. Preamble | Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic | Sets out justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as the Constitution's guiding objectives. |
| Art. 14 | Equality before law | State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or equal protection of the laws. |
| Art. 15 | Prohibition of discrimination | On grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. |
| Art. 16 | Equality of opportunity in public employment | |
| Art. 19 | Protection of six freedoms | Speech & expression, assembly, association, movement, residence, and profession/trade (subject to reasonable restrictions). |
| Art. 20 | Protection in respect of conviction for offences | No ex-post-facto law, no double jeopardy, no self-incrimination. |
| Art. 21 | Protection of life and personal liberty | The most expansively interpreted article — source of the rights to privacy, dignity, a clean environment, speedy trial, etc. |
| Art. 21A | Right to Education | Free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14 (added by the 86th Amendment). |
| Art. 22 | Protection against arrest and detention | Right to be informed of grounds of arrest, to consult a lawyer, and to be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours. |
| Art. 23 | Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour | |
| Art. 25–28 | Right to Freedom of Religion | |
| Art. 29–30 | Cultural and Educational Rights of Minorities | |
| Art. 32 | Right to Constitutional Remedies | The right to move the Supreme Court directly for enforcement of Fundamental Rights — called the "heart and soul" of the Constitution by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. |
| Art. 39A | Equal justice and free legal aid | Directive Principle underlying India's legal-aid system (Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987). |
| Art. 44 | Uniform Civil Code | Directive Principle — the State shall endeavour to secure a UCC for citizens (not yet enacted nationally). |
| Art. 124–147 | The Union Judiciary (Supreme Court) | |
| Art. 214–231 | The High Courts in the States | |
| Art. 226 | Power of High Courts to issue writs | Broader than Article 32 — extends to any purpose, not just Fundamental Rights. |
| Art. 300A | Right to Property | A constitutional (not Fundamental) right since the 44th Amendment — no person shall be deprived of property save by authority of law. |
| Art. 368 | Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution | Subject to the "basic structure" doctrine laid down in Kesavananda Bharati (below). |
Landmark Supreme Court Judgments
Real, verified citations — cross-checked against Indian Kanoon and official reports at the time of writing. Always re-confirm before citing in a filing.
Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)
Held: Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution, including Fundamental Rights, but cannot alter its "basic structure" — the doctrine that limits the amending power under Article 368.
Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978)
Held: Expanded Article 21 — "procedure established by law" must be fair, just and reasonable, linking Articles 14, 19 and 21 (the "Golden Triangle").
Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997)
Held: Laid down the "Vishaka Guidelines" on workplace sexual harassment, later codified in the POSH Act, 2013.
D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997)
Held: Laid down binding guidelines on arrest and custody — arrest memo, right to inform a relative/friend, medical examination, and production before a magistrate within 24 hours — now substantially reflected in BNSS provisions on arrest.
Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015)
Held: Struck down Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 as unconstitutionally vague and a violation of free speech under Article 19(1)(a).
Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India (2017)
Held: Unanimously held that the right to privacy is a Fundamental Right, intrinsic to life and personal liberty under Article 21.
Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018)
Held: Decriminalised consensual same-sex conduct between adults by reading down Section 377 of the (then) Indian Penal Code.
Satender Kumar Antil v. Central Bureau of Investigation (2022)
Held: Reiterated that "bail is the rule, jail is the exception," laid down categories of offences for bail purposes, and directed release of undertrials who have served a substantial part of their likely sentence.
Legal Draft Library
Standard-format Indian court drafts with placeholders — a starting point for your advocate, not a substitute for one.
📄 Regular Bail Application — Section 480, BNSS, 2023
For an accused already under arrest/in custody in a non-bailable offence, filed before the Magistrate/Sessions Court.
📄 Anticipatory Bail Application — Section 482, BNSS, 2023
For a person apprehending arrest in a non-bailable offence, filed before the Court of Session or High Court (pre-arrest).
📄 Legal Notice (General Demand / Breach of Contract)
A standard pre-litigation demand notice sent through an advocate, before filing a civil suit or complaint.
📄 RTI Application — Right to Information Act, 2005
Standard format for seeking information from a Public Authority under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.
📄 General Affidavit
A general-purpose sworn affidavit format, to be signed before a Notary Public/Oath Commissioner.
📄 Vakalatnama (Advocate Authorisation)
Standard authorisation appointing an advocate to appear and act on a party's behalf in a case.
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🏛️ All 25 High Courts of India
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