Lok Sabha Question No. 1307 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: New Criminal Laws
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Aashtikar Patil Nagesh Bapurao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1307

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2024/ AGRAHAYANA 12, 1946 (SAKA)

NEW CRIMINAL LAWS

1307.     SHRI AASHTIKAR PATIL NAGESH BAPURAO:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  reviewed  the  implementation  of  new criminal laws since it became effective on July 1, 2024;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  of  the  progress and the challenges faced on-ground for effectively implementing the new criminal laws;

(c) whether the Government has evaluated the adaptiveness and readiness  of  the  police  and  law  officials  in  employing  the  new  criminal laws; and

(d)  if  so,  the  details  of  the  progress  and  the  challenges  faced  by  police and law officials?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR)

(a)  to  (d):  The  provisions  of  the  Bharatiya  Nyaya  Sanhita,  2023  (BNS), except  sub-section  (2)  of  section  106,  the  Bharatiya  Nagarik  Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), except entry relating to section 106(2) of BNS in the First Schedule to BNSS and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA), have come into force from 1 st  July, 2024.

The  Government  has  taken  following  initiatives  immediately  after the  notification  of  three  laws  on  25 th   December  2023,  to  ensure  the effective implementation and generating awareness amongst all stakeholders including police, prison, prosecutors, judicial, forensic personnel as well as public:- i) Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) has developed and shared 13 training modules for capacity building of all the stakeholders viz.,  police,  prison,  prosecutors,  judicial  officers,  forensic  experts  and Central police organisations. It has also conducted 351 training courses/webinars/seminars and imparted training to 52,879 officers/personnel  including  Master  Trainers.  It  has  setup  Control  Room with  a  team  of  law  and  police  officers  to  address  queries  and  resolve issues raised by field functionaries in the implementation of new criminal laws.  States/Union  Territories  have  also  imparted  training  to  10,81,819 officials from prison, forensics, judicial and prosecution including 10,49,895 police officers, in coordination with BPR&D.

ii) iGOT- Karmayogi Bharat portal is running three courses [Introduction to BNS,  BNSS  and  BSA]  for  training  of  officials  on  the  new  criminal  laws since 21 st February, 2024. Overall status of these courses as on 24.10.2024 is as under:

- a) Officials who have completed at least one course: 3,90,925

b) Officials who have completed all three courses: 2,34,918

iii)  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB)  has  made  23  functional modifications  in  the  existing  Crime  and  Criminal  Tracking  Network System (CCTNS) application and is providing technical assistance to the States/UTs for seamless transition to the new system. It has formed 36 support teams and Call Center for constant review and handholding of the States/UTs in the implementation of the new criminal laws. A mobile and web application, 'NCRB SANKALAN of Criminal Laws' has been designed to help navigate to new criminal laws, serving as a bridge between the old and new laws.

iv) National Informatics Centre (NIC) has developed eSakshya, NyayShruti & eSummon Apps for facilitating videography and photography of crime scenes;  judicial  hearings  through  electronic  means;  and  delivery  of warrants  and  summons  electronically  respectively  and  shared with States/ UTs and other stakeholders.

v)    Regular  training  on  new  criminal  laws  have  also  been  imparted  by National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB),  National  Forensic  Sciences University (NFSU) and National Informatics Centre (NIC).

vi)  CCTNS  Technical  Support  Call  Centre  with  helpline  number  (14415) has  been  set  up  to  assist  States/UTs  for  implementation  of  the  new criminal law.

(vii) The Press Information Bureau, All India Radio and Doordarshan have taken  extensive  publicity  measures  on  the  press  and  social  media platforms  through  publishing  of  advisories,  news  bulletins,  programmes, discussions,  press  releases  &  infographics  related  to  the  new  criminal laws.

viii)  MyGov  has  uploaded  Informative  Flyers  on  the  Transforming  India website and through all the MyGov Social Media handles. An emailer for citizen awareness was sent out to about 7+ crore persons on 19 th  February 2024 & 26th June 2024. It has also hosted 7 Quizzes on new criminal laws from 14th March, 2024 to 13th September, 2024 to create awareness and citizen engagement.

ix) University Grants Commission (UGC) has circulated informative flyers to  1,200  Universities  and  40,000  colleges  and  All  India  Council  for Technical Education (AICTE) wrote to approximately 9,000 Institutions for sensitization amongst faculties and students about the new criminal laws. Higher Education Institutions have also organised daylong activities on

1 st July,  2024  including  focused  group  discussions,  workshops,  seminars and quizzes on various provisions of new criminal laws, highlighting the major transformation intended with wide participation of students, faculties and other staff.

x)  In  order  to  ensure  that  citizens  are  aware  about  the  transformative reforms and the positive impact it will have on the citizens, particularly women  and  children,  the  Ministry  of  Women  &  Child  Development, Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj jointly held webinar on new criminal laws in Hindi on 21st June, 2024 in which nearly  40  lakh  gross  root  level    functionaries  participated.  Another webinar in English was held on 25th June, 2024 in which nearly 50 lakh grass root level functionaries participated.

xi)  Department  of  Legal  Affairs  has  organized  five  Conferences  in  New Delhi, Guwahati, Kolkata, Chennai & Mumbai comprising delegates from police, judiciary, prosecution, prison and experts from various States.

All States/UTs have successfully implemented the new criminal laws and 13,87,396 FIRs have already been lodged under these laws as on 25th November, 2024.

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