CrPC to BNSS Converter
CrPC ↔ BNSS section numbers, with what changed: e-FIR, zero FIR and new deadlines.
Results
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What changed in the BNSS
New procedures and time limits, from the text of the BNSS. Filter by topic:
- Zero FIR
Information about a cognizable offence can be given to any police station “irrespective of the area where the offence is committed”.
CrPC: s.154
- e-FIR signature within 3 days
Information can be given by electronic communication; it is taken on record once the informant signs it.
CrPC: s.154
- Free copy of the FIR
A copy of the information as recorded must be given forthwith, free of cost, to the informant or the victim.
CrPC: s.154(2)
- Preliminary enquiry 14 days
For a cognizable offence punishable with three years or more but less than seven years, the officer in charge may, with permission from an officer of at least Deputy Superintendent rank, hold a preliminary enquiry into whether there is a prima facie case.
No CrPC equivalent
- Accused heard before cognizance of a complaint
A Magistrate cannot take cognizance of an offence on a complaint without giving the accused an opportunity of being heard.
CrPC: s.200
- Deemed sanction to prosecute 120 days
The Government must decide a request for sanction to prosecute a public servant; if it does not, sanction is deemed to have been given.
CrPC: s.197
- Statement of a rape victim on video
The victim’s statement — still recorded at her residence or a place of her choice, as far as practicable by a woman officer — may now also be recorded by audio-video means, including a mobile phone.
CrPC: s.157
- Forensic team at the crime scene
For offences punishable with seven years or more, a forensic expert must visit the crime scene to collect evidence, and the process is videographed — from a date each State notifies within five years.
No CrPC equivalent
- Medical report in rape cases 7 days
The doctor who examines the victim must send the report to the investigating officer.
CrPC: s.164A
- Investigation of rape and POCSO offences 2 months
The two-month limit for investigating rape (BNS ss.64–68, 70, 71) now also covers POCSO ss.4, 6, 8 and 10; it runs from the day the information was recorded.
CrPC: s.173(1A)
- Progress report to the victim within 90 days
The police must inform the informant or the victim of the progress of the investigation, including by electronic communication.
No CrPC equivalent
- Further investigation during trial 90 days
Further investigation once the trial has begun needs the trial court’s permission and must be completed within ninety days, extendable with the court’s permission.
CrPC: s.173(8)
- Attachment of proceeds of crime 14 days to show cause
With the Superintendent of Police’s approval, the police can apply to the court to attach property believed to be the proceeds of crime; the person gets a notice to show cause.
No CrPC equivalent
- Arrest of the infirm or people over 60
For an offence punishable with less than three years, a person who is infirm or above sixty years of age cannot be arrested without prior permission of an officer of at least Deputy Superintendent rank.
No CrPC equivalent
- Handcuffs
Handcuffs may be used, considering the nature and gravity of the offence, on habitual or repeat offenders, escapees and those accused of offences such as organised crime, terrorist acts, rape, murder or offences against the State.
No CrPC equivalent
- Police custody in parts 15 days within the first 40/60 days
Police custody of up to fifteen days in all may be authorised in one go or in parts, at any time during the first forty days (or sixty days, for serious offences) of the 60-day or 90-day detention period.
CrPC: s.167(2)
- Undertrials who have served part of the maximum sentence 1/2, or 1/3 for first offenders
An undertrial who has been detained for half the maximum sentence is released on bail; a first-time offender is released on a bond after one-third. The jail superintendent must apply to the court. The section does not help someone with more than one case pending, or charged with an offence punishable with death or life imprisonment.
CrPC: s.436A
- Copies of the police report 14 days from appearance
The Magistrate must supply the accused — and the victim, if represented by an advocate — free copies of the police report, FIR, statements and documents.
CrPC: s.207
- Committal to the Court of Session 90 days (up to 180)
Committal proceedings must be completed within ninety days of taking cognizance; the Magistrate may extend this, for recorded reasons, to not more than one hundred and eighty days.
CrPC: s.209
- Discharge in a Sessions case 60 days
The accused may apply for discharge within sixty days of the case being committed.
CrPC: s.227
- Charge in a Sessions case 60 days
The charge must be framed in writing within sixty days of the first hearing on charge.
CrPC: s.228
- Discharge in a warrant case 60 days
The accused may apply for discharge within sixty days of being supplied the documents under s.230.
CrPC: s.239
- Charge in a warrant case 60 days
The Magistrate must frame the charge within sixty days of the first hearing on charge.
CrPC: s.240
- Summary trials
Theft, receiving stolen property and similar offences involving property worth up to ₹20,000 (₹2,000 under the CrPC) must be tried summarily; a Magistrate may also try summarily any offence punishable with up to three years (two years before).
CrPC: s.260
- Trial of a proclaimed offender in absentia not before 90 days from charge
When a proclaimed offender has absconded to evade trial, the court may try and sentence them in their absence — after two warrants at least thirty days apart, a newspaper notice and other steps — but not until ninety days after the charge is framed.
No CrPC equivalent
- Judgment in a Sessions trial 30 days (up to 45)
The judgment must be given within thirty days of the end of arguments, extendable to forty-five days for recorded reasons.
CrPC: s.235
- Pronouncing judgment 45 days; upload in 7 days
Judgment is pronounced immediately after the trial or within forty-five days, and, as far as practicable, the court uploads a copy on its portal within seven days.
CrPC: s.353
- Mercy petitions 30 days from the jail’s intimation
A prisoner under sentence of death (or a relative) may petition the Governor or the President; the petition to the President follows within sixty days of the Governor’s decision.
No CrPC equivalent
- Video recording of searches and seizures
Searches and seizures, including the list of things seized and the witnesses’ signatures, are recorded by audio-video means — preferably a mobile phone — and the recording is sent to the Magistrate without delay.
No CrPC equivalent
- Proceedings in electronic mode
Summons, warrants, examination of witnesses, recording of evidence and appeals may all be handled electronically or by audio-video means.
No CrPC equivalent
- Reports by officers who have moved on
When the public servant, expert or medical officer who prepared a report has been transferred, has retired or died, their successor can depose on it — and need be called only if a party disputes the report.
No CrPC equivalent
- Witness protection
Every State Government must prepare and notify a Witness Protection Scheme.
No CrPC equivalent
For general information only, not legal advice. Templates are generic starting points — have a qualified lawyer review anything you rely on.
About the CrPC to BNSS Converter
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 on 1 July 2024. The FIR section is now 173 instead of 154, anticipatory bail is 482 instead of 438, and the High Court’s inherent powers are in 528, not 482 — and along the way the BNSS added e-FIRs, zero FIRs, video-recorded searches, trials in absentia and a string of new time limits for investigation, charge and judgment.
Type a section or a list (“154, 438, 482”) — or paste a sentence such as “FIR u/s 154, bail u/s 437” — to get the matching sections in the other code with titles and chapters, whether the official table marks them as changed or new, and the new procedures and deadlines that come with them. Everything runs in your browser.
How to use it
- Choose CrPC → BNSS or BNSS → CrPC.
- Type one or more section numbers — 154, 41A, 156(3) — separated by commas, or paste text that mentions them (“u/s 154 and 156(3)”). Or type words such as “anticipatory bail” or “zero FIR” to search.
- Read each result: the corresponding section with its title and chapter, “changed” or “new” flags from the official table, and the new BNSS procedures and time limits attached to it.
- Browse What changed in the BNSS below the results for all the new deadlines, filtered by topic.
- Copy the results or download them as CSV.
Examples
CrPC 154
BNSS s.173 — with zero FIR (any police station), e-FIR signed within 3 days, a free copy to the victim, and a 14-day preliminary enquiry for offences punishable with 3 to 7 years.
CrPC 437, 438, 439
BNSS ss.480 (bail in non-bailable offences), 482 (anticipatory bail) and 483 (special powers of the High Court and Court of Session).
CrPC 482
BNSS s.528 — saving of inherent powers of the High Court.
BNSS 356
A new section — trial and judgment in absentia of a proclaimed offender, not before 90 days from the charge.
Common uses
- Converting the section numbers in an FIR, a bail application or a judgment from the old code to the new one.
- Finding the BNSS deadline that now applies to an investigation, a charge or a judgment.
- Preparing a CrPC–BNSS chart for training, teaching or exam revision.
- Checking whether an old procedure still exists under the BNSS.
Which code applies — CrPC or BNSS?
The BNSS came into force on 1 July 2024 (notification S.O. 848(E)). Any appeal, application, trial, inquiry or investigation pending on that day continues under the CrPC; proceedings begun on or after it follow the BNSS (BNSS s.531(2)(a)). Notifications, rules and orders made under the CrPC continue as if made under the corresponding BNSS provisions (s.531(2)(b)).
The new time limits at a glance
- e-FIR signed within 3 days; preliminary enquiry within 14 days (s.173)
- Medical report of a rape victim within 7 days (s.184(6)); progress of the investigation to the victim within 90 days (s.193(3))
- Sanction to prosecute a public servant: deemed granted after 120 days (s.218)
- Copies of the police report to the accused within 14 days (s.230); committal within 90 days, at most 180 (s.232)
- Discharge applications within 60 days (ss.250, 262); charge within 60 days of the first hearing (ss.251, 263)
- Judgment within 30 days of arguments, at most 45, in Sessions cases (s.258), and within 45 days of the trial generally (s.392)
- Mercy petition within 30 days of the jail’s intimation (s.472)
Provisions with no BNSS equivalent
The official table marks as deleted the provisions on Metropolitan Magistrates and metropolitan areas (CrPC ss.8, 16–19 and the definition in s.2(k)), the definitions of “India”, “pleader” and “prescribed” (s.2(f), (q), (t)), and ss.10, 27, 144A, 153, 355 and 404.
Sources
- NCRB Sankalan — correspondence tables of the new criminal laws (CrPC–BNSS)
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — section titles, the new procedures and time limits
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (India Code) — to check what is new
Limitations
- A reference aid, not legal advice: the numbers follow the official table, but wording changed in many sections — read the bare Act before relying on one.
- The highlights summarise the main new procedures and time limits; they are not a complete list of every change.
- It covers the CrPC and the BNSS only, not the evidence law (Indian Evidence Act → Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam) or special laws.
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Frequently asked questions
What is CrPC 154 in BNSS?
Section 173 of the BNSS (information in cognizable cases — the FIR). It adds the zero FIR, the e-FIR, a free copy for the victim, and a preliminary enquiry for offences punishable with three to seven years.
What is the new section for anticipatory bail (CrPC 438)?
BNSS s.482. Regular bail in non-bailable cases (CrPC 437) is now s.480, and the special powers of the High Court and Sessions Court (CrPC 439) are in s.483.
Where is CrPC 482 (inherent powers, quashing) in the BNSS?
In s.528. Note that BNSS s.482 is now anticipatory bail — a common source of confusion.
What is CrPC 125 (maintenance) in the BNSS?
Section 144 of the BNSS — order for maintenance of wives, children and parents.
What is a zero FIR?
An FIR registered by any police station, whatever the area where the offence happened. BNSS s.173(1) now says so expressly: information may be given “irrespective of the area where the offence is committed”.
Does the CrPC still apply to old cases?
Yes, to appeals, applications, trials, inquiries and investigations that were pending on 1 July 2024 (BNSS s.531(2)(a)).