CrPC 1→BNSS 1

CrPC 1 to BNSS 1: Short title, extent and commencement

Section 1 CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 1 BNSS (2023)

View CrPC Section 1 →View BNSS Section 1 →

CrPC 1 to BNSS 1 at a Glance

Section 1 CrPC (Short title, extent and commencement) is now Section 1 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From CrPC 1 to BNSS 1?

Section 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 became Section 1 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Updating the short title, replacing Code with Sanhita, and renumbering Chapters VIII, X and XI to Chapters IX, XI and XII are changes of form. Section 1(2) BNSS omits the opening clause stating that it extends to the whole of India and states the exclusion directly, while the rule for the State of Nagaland, the tribal areas, State Government notifications, and the Explanation is unchanged. Section 1(3) BNSS replaces the 1st day of April, 1974 with commencement by Central Government notification in the Official Gazette.

CrPC 1 vs BNSS 1: Comparison Table

AspectCrPC 1973 (repealed)BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section11
HeadingShort title, extent and commencementSame
Sub-sections3 sub-sectionsSame

CrPC 1 and BNSS 1: Bare Act Text Side by Side

CrPC 1973 (repealed)

Section 1, CrPC 1973

1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. (2) It extends to the whole of India: Provided that the provisions of this Code, other than those relating to Chapters VIII, X and XI thereof, shall not apply— (a) to the State of Nagaland, (b) to the tribal areas, but the concerned State Government may, by notification, apply such provisions or any of them to the whole or part of the State of Nagaland or such tribal areas, as the case may be, with such supplemental, incidental or consequential modifications, as may be specified in the notification. Explanation.—In this section, “tribal areas” means the territories which immediately before the 21st day of January, 1972, were included in the tribal areas of Assam, as referred to in paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution, other than those within the local limits of the municipality of Shillong. (3) It shall come into force on the 1st day of April, 1974.
BNSS 2023 (in force)

Section 1, BNSS 2023

1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. (2) The provisions of this Sanhita, other than those relating to Chapters IX, XI and XII thereof, shall not apply— (a) to the State of Nagaland; (b) to the tribal areas, but the concerned State Government may, by notification, apply such provisions or any of them to the whole or part of the State of Nagaland or such tribal areas, as the case may be, with such supplemental, incidental or consequential modifications, as may be specified in the notification. Explanation.—In this section, "tribal areas" means the territories which immediately before the 21st day of January, 1972, were included in the tribal areas of Assam, as referred to in paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution, other than those within the local limits of the municipality of Shillong. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

When It Applies: CrPC 1 vs BNSS 1

Under CrPC 1
  1. Section 1(1) and Section 1(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 state the short title by which the Act may be called and make it applicable across the whole of India, subject to the exceptions in the proviso to Section 1(2) CrPC.
  2. The proviso to Section 1(2) CrPC provides that only the provisions relating to Chapters VIII, X and XI apply automatically in the State of Nagaland and the tribal areas, while the rest of the Code shall not apply there unless extended.
  3. Section 1(2)(b) CrPC empowers the concerned State Government to issue a notification extending any or all of the excluded provisions of the Code to the whole or part of the State of Nagaland or the tribal areas, with such supplemental, incidental or consequential modifications as may be specified in the notification.
  4. The Explanation to Section 1(2) CrPC defines tribal areas as those territories that formed part of the tribal areas of Assam under paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution immediately before the 21st day of January, 1972, outside the local limits of the municipality of Shillong.
  5. Section 1(3) CrPC provides that the Code shall come into force on the 1st day of April, 1974.
Under BNSS 1
  1. Section 1(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 establishes the official short title by which the Act may be called.
  2. Section 1(2) BNSS directs that only the provisions of the Sanhita relating to Chapters IX, XI and XII apply automatically in the State of Nagaland and the tribal areas, while the remaining provisions shall not apply there unless extended.
  3. Section 1(2)(b) BNSS empowers the concerned State Government to issue a notification applying any or all of the excluded provisions of the Sanhita to the whole or part of the State of Nagaland or the tribal areas, with such supplemental, incidental or consequential modifications as may be specified in the notification.
  4. The Explanation to Section 1(2) BNSS defines tribal areas as the territories that formed part of the tribal areas of Assam under paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution immediately before the 21st day of January, 1972, excluding territories within the local limits of the municipality of Shillong.
  5. Section 1(3) BNSS provides that the Sanhita shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may appoint by notification in the Official Gazette.

What CrPC 1 to BNSS 1 Means in Practice

From 1 July 2024, the provision on short title, extent, and commencement in Section 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is found in Section 1 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The rule for the State of Nagaland, the tribal areas, and the municipality of Shillong is unchanged. Only the provisions relating to Chapters IX, XI and XII of the Sanhita apply in the State of Nagaland and the tribal areas unless the concerned State Government applies other provisions by notification.

FAQs: CrPC 1 to BNSS 1

Did Section 1 BNSS change the rule for the State of Nagaland and the tribal areas?▼

No, the rule is unchanged between Section 1(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Section 1(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Section 1(2) BNSS omits the opening clause stating that it extends to the whole of India and renumbers Chapters VIII, X and XI to Chapters IX, XI and XII as a change of form. The exclusion, the State Government notification power, and the Explanation remain identical.

How did the commencement clause change from Section 1(3) CrPC to Section 1(3) BNSS?▼

Section 1(3) CrPC stated a fixed commencement date in the statute itself, providing that the Code shall come into force on the 1st day of April, 1974. By contrast, Section 1(3) BNSS does not name a calendar date in the statutory text and instead provides that the Sanhita shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

Are the changes to the chapter numbers and the word Sanhita in Section 1(2) BNSS changes of substance?▼

No, replacing the word Code with Sanhita and renumbering the chapter references from Chapters VIII, X and XI in Section 1(2) CrPC to Chapters IX, XI and XII in Section 1(2) BNSS are changes of form. Under both provisions, only the provisions relating to the chapters it names apply automatically to the State of Nagaland and the tribal areas, while the concerned State Government may apply any other provisions by notification.

Disclaimer: This comparison is for informational purposes only. The new criminal laws came into effect on 1 July 2024. Consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 18 Oct 2026 ·