Last Updated: May 2026
The IPC to BNS transition for CLAT 2027 is the single most-tested legal-current-affairs theme in 2025-26. The Indian Penal Code 1860 was repealed and replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 with effect from 1 July 2024. CLAT 2027 will examine students on the conceptual and structural changes — section renumbering, new offences, redefinitions and procedural shifts.
Why CLAT 2027 Will Test This
The transition affected three statutes simultaneously: IPC → BNS, CrPC → BNSS, Indian Evidence Act → BSA. CLAT 2024 already had three passage-based questions on it; CLAT 2027 will go deeper. Memorise the comparison table.
BNS vs IPC — Structural Comparison
| Aspect | IPC 1860 | BNS 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Total sections | 511 | 358 |
| Total chapters | 23 | 20 |
| Effective from | 1 January 1862 | 1 July 2024 |
| Drafting committee | First Law Commission (Macaulay) | Committee for Reforms in Criminal Laws (Ranbir Singh) |
| New offences | — | Organised crime (§111), terrorism (§113), mob lynching (§103(2)), petty organised crime (§112) |
| Repealed offences | — | Section 377 (unnatural offences), Section 124A (sedition replaced by §150 — acts endangering sovereignty) |
| Community service | Not a punishment | Recognised as punishment for 6 offences |
| Death penalty | Retained for ~12 offences | Retained + extended to mob lynching |
Key Section-to-Section Mapping (CLAT High-Yield)
| Concept | IPC Section | BNS Section | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murder | 302 | 103 | Renumbered, content unchanged |
| Culpable homicide not amounting to murder | 304 | 105 | Renumbered |
| Mob lynching | — | 103(2) | NEW — death/life imprisonment when 5+ persons kill on grounds of race, caste, sex, language, place of birth, personal belief |
| Rape | 375 | 63 | Renumbered; §70 — gang rape; §65 — rape of minor under 16/12 |
| Theft | 378 | 303 | Renumbered |
| Robbery | 390 | 309 | Renumbered |
| Dacoity | 391 | 310 | Renumbered |
| Cheating | 415 | 318 | Renumbered |
| Criminal conspiracy | 120A/120B | 61 | Single section |
| Sedition | 124A | — | REPEALED — replaced by §150 (acts endangering sovereignty, unity & integrity of India) |
| Terrorism | — | 113 | NEW — codified within general criminal law |
| Organised crime | — | 111 | NEW |
The Sedition Question — Section 124A vs Section 150
Section 124A of IPC was the colonial-era sedition provision that the Supreme Court had stayed in S.G. Vombatkere v. Union of India (2022). Section 150 of BNS does not use the word “sedition” but criminalises:
- Acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India
- By words spoken/written, signs, visible representation, electronic communication, financial means
- That excite or attempt to excite secession, armed rebellion, subversive activities, separatist feelings
Punishment: imprisonment for life or up to 7 years and fine. The CLAT testers’ favourite question: is Section 150 narrower or broader than the old Section 124A? Answer — narrower in language (must endanger sovereignty), broader in modes (covers electronic and financial).
The Mob Lynching Provision — Section 103(2) BNS
For the first time, Indian criminal law specifically recognises mob lynching. Section 103(2) reads: “When a group of five or more persons acting in concert commits murder on the ground of race, caste or community, sex, place of birth, language, personal belief or any other similar ground each member of such group shall be punished with death or with imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.”
This codifies the directions in Tehseen Poonawalla v. Union of India (2018).
BNSS — Procedural Highlights for CLAT
- Section 173: e-FIR — police must register FIR for cognisable offences anywhere in India (“Zero FIR” given statutory backing)
- Section 176: forensic investigation mandatory for offences with 7+ years punishment
- Section 187: police custody can be sought in parts within first 60/90 days, not only first 15 days (controversial — pending challenge in SC)
- Section 356: trial in absentia for proclaimed offenders
- Section 479: undertrial release rules — 1/3 of max sentence (first-time), 1/2 (repeat)
BSA — Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam Highlights
- Section 61: electronic records given primary-evidence status (not just secondary as under old IEA Section 65B)
- Section 63: certificate requirement for electronic evidence retained but procedure simplified
- 170 sections total (vs IEA’s 167)
Practice MCQs
Quiz data missing.
FAQ
Q1. Will CLAT 2027 use BNS section numbers in passages?
Yes. CLAT 2024 and 2025 used both. CLAT 2027 is expected to be BNS-only.
Q2. Do I need to memorise both IPC and BNS section numbers?
Memorise BNS for the 30 high-frequency offences. For IPC, only know the famous ones (302, 304, 375, 378, 124A, 120A/B) for cross-reference.
Q3. Is the sedition law really gone?
The word “sedition” is gone. The substance — criminalising acts against the state — has been recast as Section 150 of BNS with arguably narrower scope but broader modes (electronic, financial).
Q4. What does “trial in absentia” mean under BNSS Section 356?
If a proclaimed offender absconds for 90 days after being declared a proclaimed offender under Section 84, the court can proceed with the trial in his absence. This is a major procedural shift.
