The soul of the new law, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is Justice, Equality and Impartiality based on Indian culture and ethos. Discuss this in the light of major shift from a doctrine of punishment to justice in the present judicial system.

Reformative justice

Community service is now a punishment for six petty offences such as first-time theft below Rs 5,000 with restitution, reflecting the idea that danda restores dharma.

Victim at the centre

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita allows a Zero FIR anywhere and updates for victims within 90 days; nearly 60,000 Zero FIRs were filed in two years (New India Samachar, July 2026).

Equality and impartiality

Gender now includes transgender persons, mob lynching is a distinct offence under Section 103(2), and mandatory forensics and videography curb police bias.

Old powers, new names

Section 152 is criticised as sedition relabelled, and police custody of 15 days can be split across the first 40 or 60 days.

Retributive core intact

The death penalty is retained and extended, and omitting Section 377 altogether left adult male victims of rape without a specific remedy.

Capacity deficit

Forensic mandates need laboratories, staff and judges, or timelines remain paper promises.