In short: Since 1 July 2024, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has replaced the IPC, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has replaced the CrPC, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) has replaced the Evidence Act. The tables below map the old section numbers people most often see on FIRs, notices and court orders to their new equivalents. Some numbers now mean something completely different, for example 482 CrPC (quashing) is now 528 BNSS, while 482 BNSS is anticipatory bail. For any section not listed here, check the bare act.
If you are holding an FIR, a police notice or a court order and the section numbers do not match what you read online, you are not alone. Old and new numbers both remain in use, and lawyers, police and even orders often mention both. This page is a quick reference for the sections that matter most in arrest, bail, quashing and trial.
Why both numbers still appear on FIRs and orders
- The offence date decides the penal law. A person can only be tried under the offence law in force when the act was committed. An offence committed before 1 July 2024 will generally still carry IPC sections, even if the FIR is registered later.
- Pending matters may continue under the old procedure. Section 531 BNSS contains repeal and savings provisions under which matters pending on 1 July 2024 generally continue under the CrPC. Courts have taken different views in some transitional situations, so the current case law should be checked for your specific stage.
- Habit. Many people, and some documents, still say “41A notice” or “438 bail” out of habit.
Bail and arrest sections (CrPC to BNSS)
| Subject | Old CrPC section | New BNSS section |
|---|---|---|
| When police may arrest without warrant | 41 | 35(1) |
| Notice of appearance instead of arrest | 41A | 35(3) to 35(6) |
| Right to meet an advocate during interrogation | 41D | 38 |
| Grounds of arrest and right to bail to be informed | 50 | 47 |
| Duty to inform a relative or friend of the arrest | 50A | 48 |
| Medical examination of arrested person | 54 | 53 |
| Production before Magistrate within 24 hours | 57 | 58 |
| Remand, police custody limit, default bail | 167 | 187 |
| Bail in bailable offences | 436 | 478 |
| Maximum period of detention of undertrial | 436A | 479 |
| Bail in non-bailable offences (Magistrate) | 437 | 480 |
| Bond to appear before appellate court | 437A | 481 |
| Anticipatory bail | 438 | 482 |
| Bail by Sessions Court / High Court | 439 | 483 |
For how these work in practice, see anticipatory bail, bail applications and police notice under Section 35 BNSS.
FIR, investigation and charge-sheet (CrPC to BNSS)
| Subject | Old CrPC section | New BNSS section |
|---|---|---|
| Summons to produce a document or thing | 91 | 94 |
| Police power to seize property | 102 | 106 |
| Registration of FIR (cognizable offence) | 154 | 173 |
| Magistrate ordering investigation | 156(3) | 175(3) |
| Police recording witness statements | 161 | 180 |
| Statements and confessions before a Magistrate | 164 | 183 |
| Police report on completion of investigation (charge-sheet) | 173 | 193 |
| Cognizance of offences by Magistrate | 190 | 210 |
| Supply of police report and documents to accused | 207 | 230 |
Court-stage sections (CrPC to BNSS)
| Subject | Old CrPC section | New BNSS section |
|---|---|---|
| Discharge in Sessions trial | 227 | 250 |
| Discharge in warrant case on police report | 239 | 262 |
| Examination of accused after prosecution evidence | 313 | 351 |
| Trial in absence of accused / exemption from appearance | 317 | 355 |
| Compounding of offences | 320 | 359 |
| Appeal against conviction | 374 | 415 |
| Suspension of sentence pending appeal | 389 | 430 |
| Inherent powers of High Court (quashing) | 482 | 528 |
See discharge applications and FIR quashing for how these stages work.
Common offences (IPC to BNS)
| Offence | Old IPC section | New BNS section |
|---|---|---|
| Acts done by several persons with common intention | 34 | 3(5) |
| Criminal conspiracy (punishment) | 120B | 61(2) |
| Culpable homicide (definition) | 299 | 100 |
| Murder (definition) | 300 | 101 |
| Punishment for murder | 302 | 103(1) |
| Culpable homicide not amounting to murder | 304 | 105 |
| Death by negligence | 304A | 106(1) |
| Dowry death | 304B | 80 |
| Abetment of suicide | 306 | 108 |
| Attempt to murder | 307 | 109 |
| Voluntarily causing hurt | 323 | 115(2) |
| Hurt by dangerous weapons or means | 324 | 118(1) |
| Voluntarily causing grievous hurt | 325 | 117(2) |
| Grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means | 326 | 118(2) |
| Assault or criminal force to outrage modesty | 354 | 74 |
| Stalking | 354D | 78 |
| Rape (punishment) | 376 | 64 |
| Theft (punishment) | 379 | 303(2) |
| Criminal breach of trust (punishment) | 406 | 316(2) |
| Dishonestly receiving stolen property | 411 | 317(2) |
| Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property | 420 | 318(4) |
| Cruelty by husband or relatives | 498A | 85 (cruelty defined in 86) |
| Intentional insult to provoke breach of peace | 504 | 352 |
| Criminal intimidation (punishment) | 506 | 351(2) and 351(3) |
| Word or gesture to insult modesty of a woman | 509 | 79 |
Evidence (Evidence Act to BSA)
| Subject | Old Evidence Act section | New BSA section |
|---|---|---|
| Confessions to police / in police custody, and discovery of facts | 25, 26, 27 | 23 |
| Certificate for electronic records | 65B | 63 |
Confusing pairs
Several numbers were reused for different purposes. These are the ones that cause the most confusion:
- 482 CrPC vs 482 BNSS: 482 CrPC was the High Court’s inherent power, used for quashing FIRs. That power is now Section 528 BNSS. Section 482 BNSS is anticipatory bail (old 438 CrPC). A “482 petition” in an old order and a “482 application” in a new one can mean completely different things.
- 41A CrPC vs 35 BNSS: The notice of appearance is now in Section 35(3) BNSS. People and some notices still call it a “41A notice”. Both refer to the same notice-first procedure for offences punishable up to seven years.
- 173 CrPC vs 173 BNSS: 173 CrPC was the charge-sheet; 173 BNSS is registration of the FIR. The charge-sheet is now 193 BNSS.
- 438 CrPC vs 482 BNSS: Both mean anticipatory bail, under the old and new law respectively.
What to do once you know the section
- Check whether it is bailable or non-bailable, and cognizable or not. This is listed in the First Schedule of the BNSS (the old First Schedule of the CrPC for IPC offences). It tells you whether bail is a right or at the court’s discretion.
- Note the maximum punishment. If it is seven years or less, the notice-first procedure under Section 35 BNSS usually applies, which changes the arrest risk. It also decides the default bail period (60 or 90 days) under Section 187 BNSS.
- Identify the court. The schedule also says whether a Magistrate or the Sessions Court tries the offence, which decides where bail is first sought.
- Keep both numbers in your notes. When speaking to the police, a court clerk or your advocate, mention both the old and new section to avoid misunderstanding.
For an overview of how criminal matters move from FIR to trial, see criminal defence. If an FIR or notice concerns you, discussing it with an advocate who has read the full document can help you understand where you stand.
Important: This page lists only well-established mappings. Many provisions were merged, split or reworded, so a new section may not match the old one word for word. For any section not listed here, or for exact wording, check the bare act published by the Government of India.
Related
- Anticipatory bail
- Bail applications
- FIR quashing
- Police notice under Section 35 BNSS
- Discharge applications
- Criminal defence
Frequently asked questions
What is 482 CrPC in BNSS?
Section 482 CrPC (inherent powers of the High Court, used for quashing) is now Section 528 BNSS. Do not confuse it with Section 482 BNSS, which deals with anticipatory bail.
What is 438 CrPC in BNSS?
Anticipatory bail, formerly Section 438 CrPC, is now Section 482 BNSS.
What is 439 CrPC in BNSS?
Section 439 CrPC, the special power of the High Court and Sessions Court to grant bail, is now Section 483 BNSS.
What is 302 IPC in BNS?
Punishment for murder, formerly Section 302 IPC, is now Section 103(1) BNS. Section 103(2) BNS is a new provision for murder by a group of five or more persons on grounds such as race, caste, community, sex, place of birth, language or personal belief.
What is 41A CrPC in BNSS?
The notice of appearance under Section 41A CrPC is now in Section 35(3) to 35(6) BNSS.
Which law applies to an FIR registered before July 2024?
The offence is judged under the law in force when it was committed, so an offence before 1 July 2024 generally stays under the IPC. Procedure for matters pending on that date generally continues under the CrPC through the savings provision in Section 531 BNSS, but courts have differed on some transitional situations, so the current case law should be checked.
Note: This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts, and the law and court practice can change. Please consult a qualified advocate about your situation.