Why in the news
A senior Home Ministry official said digital recording of all investigations and trials under the new criminal codes becomes the norm from 1 January 2027. The countrywide roll-out of the Interoperable Criminal Justice System is close to being finished.
Key facts
- Digital deadline: 1 January 2027 for investigation and trial records.
- ICJS score: 46.47% (January 2025) rising to 70.06% (June 2026).
- Full compliance: Haryana, Goa, Assam, Punjab and Chandigarh meet every parameter.
- Better than average: 23 States and UTs, Delhi among them.
- Data hosting: the MeghRaj government cloud.
The three new criminal laws
| Old law | Replacing law (2023) | In force from |
|---|
| Indian Penal Code, 1860 | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) | 1 July 2024 |
| Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898/1973 | Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) | 1 July 2024 |
| Indian Evidence Act, 1872 | Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) | 1 July 2024 |
About ICJS
ICJS is a digital platform that lets the five pillars of criminal justice share data, aiming at quicker justice. It is hosted on MeghRaj.
| Pillar | Linked system |
|---|
| Police | CCTNS |
| Courts | e-Courts / Case Information System |
| Prisons | e-Prisons |
| Forensics | e-Forensics |
| Prosecution | e-Prosecution |
Related platforms
- MeghRaj: central cloud initiative begun in February 2014 under MeitY, meant to speed up e-governance delivery.
- CCTNS: used for FIRs at about 16,000 police stations; registers FIRs in 23 languages and uses Bhashini to translate zero-FIRs into the language of the jurisdiction.
- Bhashini: MeitY’s AI translation platform under the “AI for Bharat” effort, handling 22+ scheduled languages in real time.
Notable provisions of the new laws
| Provision | What it does |
|---|
| Zero-FIR, BNSS Section 173 | Any station records the FIR; gives statutory backing to an earlier Supreme Court direction |
| Trial in absentia, BNSS Section 356 | Trial and judgment possible when a proclaimed offender is absent |
| Forensics, BNSS Section 176 | Compulsory for offences carrying 7+ years |
| Organised crime, BNS Section 111 | Separate provision |
| Terrorism, BNS Section 113 | Defined in the general criminal law |
| Community service | New penalty for 6 minor offences |
| Timelines | Chargesheet in 60-90 days, 3-year trial cap, 90-day victim update |
Exam angle
- Nodal ministry for ICJS: Ministry of Home Affairs; cloud: MeghRaj under MeitY.
- Match the five pillars with CCTNS, e-Courts, e-Prisons, e-Forensics and e-Prosecution.
- Section numbers to remember: 173 (zero-FIR), 176 (forensics), 356 (absentia), 111 and 113 (BNS).