The replacement of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) has placed every advocate in the same situation—old files speak IPC, courts expect BNS.
Conversion is no longer optional research work; it is part of daily drafting discipline. This guide explains a clear step-by-step method that any advocate can follow, even in the middle of a busy court day.
Step 1 – Start with Facts, Not Sections
Before touching any converter, write down:
what exactly happened
role of each accused
intention/knowledge
injury or loss caused
Sections must flow from facts, not the other way round. This prevents mechanical mapping.
Step 2 – Identify the Familiar IPC Provision
From experience or old records, note the likely IPC section:
from FIR
from charge sheet
from senior’s draft
from precedent
Treat this only as a starting point, not the final answer.
Step 3 – Use an IPC → BNS Converter
Enter the IPC section into a reliable tool to obtain:
corresponding BNS section
changes in wording
revised punishment
This gives the first layer of accuracy within seconds.
Step 4 – Read the BNS Provision Fully
Never copy the number blindly.
Open the BNS text and check:
ingredients of the offence
mental element required
exceptions/illustrations
sentencing range
Many provisions are restructured, not merely renumbered.
Step 5 – Match Ingredients with Your Facts
Ask four questions:
Do my facts satisfy BNS elements?
Is any ingredient missing?
Is a different BNS section more appropriate?
Has the gravity changed?
If mismatch appears, adjust the legal theory.
Step 6 – Draft in BNS Language
Use BNS as the primary citation:
“Offence under Section ___ BNS, 2023 (corresponding to Section ___ IPC, 1860).”
Avoid mixing paragraphs written in pure IPC style.
Step 7 – Verify Punishment & Procedure
Check:
whether the offence is cognizable
bailable/non-bailable nature
compoundability
impact on bail strategy
These often differ from IPC assumptions.
Step 8 – Prepare a Mapping Note
Attach a short table in your file:
Old IPC New BNS Key Change
This helps during arguments and senior review.
Step 9 – Recheck Before Filing
Final 30-second test:
Any IPC-only line left?
Punishment quoted from BNS?
Terminology updated?
Grounds aligned with BNSS?
Where Advocates Must Apply This Process
drafting complaints & FIRs
bail applications
charge framing assistance
appeals & revisions
legal opinions
notices to police
written submissions
Common Mistakes Advocates Make
❌ Assuming one-to-one renumbering
❌ Copy-pasting old templates
❌ Ignoring changed ingredients
❌ Using IPC punishments
❌ Skipping full reading of BNS text
The step-by-step method eliminates these.
Tips for Young Advocates
Convert first, draft later
Maintain your personal mapping diary
Keep both references during transition
Never argue IPC alone in 2024+
Use converter as learning tool
How Technology Helps
Platforms like VakilMitraAI provide instant IPC → BNS conversion so advocates can:
map sections in seconds
avoid unreliable charts
draft court-ready pleadings
learn the new code while working
A Simple Memory Rule
IPC memory → Converter → BNS reading → Draft → Verify
Follow this sequence and errors almost disappear.
Final Takeaway
Mastering BNS does not mean erasing IPC from your mind.
It means translating your IPC experience into BNS accuracy through a disciplined process.
Advocates who follow this step-by-step conversion will:
face fewer objections
draft faster
argue confidently
stay ahead in the new criminal law regime.Feel free to refer to our IPC to BNS Converter
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