Indian Laws & Updates

Supreme law of India. 395 Articles, 22 Parts, 12 Schedules, 105 Amendments. Establishes parliamentary democracy, fundamental rights (Part III), directive principles (Part IV), federal structure with Centre-State distribution of powers.

Free and compulsory education for children 6–14 years under Article 21A. 25% reservation in private unaided schools for EWS/disadvantaged groups. No capitation fee or screening for admission.

Citizens can request information from public authorities within 30 days. Penalty Rs 250/day (max Rs 25,000) for delay. 2019 amendment changed CIC service conditions controversially.

Prevents atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Tribes. 2015 amendment added 22 new offences including garlanding with footwear, preventing voting. Exclusive Special Courts, anticipatory bail restricted.

Replaces 1995 Act. 21 disability categories (from 7). 5% reservation in government jobs, 5% in higher education. Mandatory accessibility norms. Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities.

2018: bribe-giving criminalised (previously only taking was offence). Prior sanction required for prosecution of public servants. Commercial organisation liability. 2-year trial timeline.

Establishes Lokpal at Centre and Lokayuktas at state level to inquire into corruption allegations against public servants including PM (with restrictions), ministers, MPs, Group A officers.

Protects persons disclosing corruption, wilful misuse of power, and criminal offences by public servants. Competent Authority receives disclosures. Complainant identity protected. Victimisation prohibited.

Replaces 163-year-old IPC with 358 sections. Terrorism defined as offence, organised crime chapter, community service as punishment, sedition renamed to acts endangering sovereignty.

Replaces CrPC with 531 sections. Mandatory audio-video recording of search/seizure, trial in absentia, Zero FIR, mandatory e-FIR, 90-day police custody for grave offences.

Replaces Indian Evidence Act. Electronic/digital records as primary evidence. Joint trial provisions expanded. 170 sections replacing 167.

Historic criminal code repealed 1 July 2024. Contained 511 sections covering all major criminal offences for 163 years. Replaced by BNS 2023.

Criminal procedure code repealed 1 July 2024, replaced by BNSS 2023.

Evidentiary code repealed 1 July 2024, replaced by BSA 2023.

2019 amendment introduced death penalty for aggravated penetrative sexual assault on children below 12. Child-friendly courts, special prosecutors, mandatory reporting.

Governs narcotics offences. Reverse burden of proof on accused. Strict Section 37 bail. Death penalty for repeat large-quantity trafficking. Controlled substances list.

2019 amendment: designation of individuals as terrorists. NIA can attach property without state government permission. 180-day bail restriction. Wider terrorism definition.

2021 amendment: DMs can grant adoption orders. Juveniles 16–18 tried as adults for heinous offences after JJB assessment. Child Welfare Committees strengthened.

2019: max 1 firearm per person (was 3). Life imprisonment for prohibited arms. Online licence application. Stronger provisions on weapons of mass destruction.

Regulates manufacture, possession, use, sale, import of explosives. PESO administers licensing. Ammonium nitrate, gunpowder, detonators all covered.

Maharashtra state law to combat organised crime. Special courts, interception of communications, stringent bail. Applicable in Delhi NCT too under special notification.

Section 143 BNS defines trafficking comprehensively. Aggravated forms attract life imprisonment. Child trafficking, trafficking for forced labour, organ harvesting covered.

Primary civil procedure law. 158 Sections, 51 Orders. Jurisdiction, pleadings, discovery, interim orders, execution, appeals. Commercial Courts Act (2015) creates fast-track mechanism.

137 articles prescribing time limits. General suit limitation: 3 years. Fraud/mistake: 3 years from discovery. SC suo motu extended limitation during COVID (In Re: Cognizance, 2020).

2018: specific performance made rule (not exception) especially for infrastructure contracts. 12-month trial limit. Substituted performance concept. Special courts for infrastructure.

Commercial Courts at district/HC level for specified-value disputes (Rs 3 lakh+). Pre-institution mediation mandatory. Strict timelines. Summary judgment. Costs imposed liberally.

India's first standalone mediation law. Pre-litigation mediation mandatory for commercial disputes. Settlement = court decree. Mediation Council of India. Online mediation recognised. 60-day timeline.

NALSA provides free legal aid to marginalised groups. Lok Adalats give final non-appealable awards. Permanent Lok Adalats for public utility services. Pre-litigation settlement.

Foundational contract law. Offer, acceptance, consideration, capacity, free consent. Void/voidable contracts. Quasi-contracts. Breach remedies (Section 73–74). Frustration (Section 56).

Sale of goods contracts. Conditions and warranties. Caveat emptor. Nemo dat rule for title transfer. Risk and property passing rules. Buyer and seller remedies.

Governs cheques, promissory notes, bills of exchange. Section 138 cheque dishonour: criminal liability. 2018 amendment: interim compensation 20%, trial in 6 months.

470 sections governing companies. CSR 2% mandatory, independent directors, NCLT/NCLAT, NFRA, class action suits, fast-track mergers. Continuous amendments to decriminalise offences.

330-day insolvency timeline. Rs 1 crore default threshold. Home buyers = financial creditors. Pre-packaged insolvency for MSMEs. Personal guarantors covered. 700+ companies resolved.

Securities market regulator. Powers: investigation, prosecution, disgorgement, recovery. 2023: enhanced powers, Settlement Scheme, Consent Orders. T+1 settlement implemented.

Civil law governing forex. Replaced criminal FERA. FDI, FPI, current account transactions. Compoundable offences. Enforcement Directorate for FEMA violations.

2023: deal value threshold Rs 2,000 crore, 150-day CCI timeline, settlement/commitment mechanism, gun-jumping penalties enhanced, hub-and-spoke agreements covered.