Introduction to India's New Criminal Laws
On July 1, 2024, India implemented three new criminal laws: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Act (BSA). The government has undertaken extensive preparations to ensure a smooth transition.
PM Modi emphasized the principles of "Citizen First, Dignity First, Justice First" and encouraged the police to work with data instead of force.
This article delves into the government's preparations, highlighting operational training, publicity efforts, technological upgrades, capacity building, and planned events.
Government Preparation & Operational Training
Bar Council of India: New laws to be included in university curricula and Centres of Legal Education from the 2024-25 academic year.
Department of School Education: Special modules for Classes 6 upward to be conducted between October and March.
Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy Of Administration (LBSNAA): A five-day training program for IAS, IPS, judicial officers, and personnel from crime records bureaus and forensic labs.
Ministries of WCD, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj: Conducted a Hindi webinar on June 21 and an English webinar on June 25 on the new laws for grassroots functionaries.
Publicity and Awareness
Bureau of Police Research and Development: Coordinated efforts for a coordinated publicity campaign. Thematic posters and flyers shared with all departments, extensive visibility through advisories, press releases, and infographics on social media.
Press Information Bureau: Conducted vartalap (conversations) and workshops for regional media in 20 state capitals, with more planned for other capitals.
Technological Upgradation
National Crime Records Bureau: Made 23 functional modifications in the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) application to ensure compatibility with the new laws. Technical assistance and support teams set up for states/UTs.
National Informatics Centre: Developed applications such as eSakshya, NyayShruti, and eSummon for videography/photography of crime scenes, judicial hearings, and electronic delivery of court summons.
Capacity Building of Police
Bureau of Police Research and Development: Developed 13 training modules to build the capacity of police, prisons, prosecutors, judicial officers, forensic experts, and central police organizations. Conducted 250 training courses/webinars/seminars, training over 40,000 officers/personnel.
Control Room: Set up with law and police officers to address queries from field functionaries.
Department of Legal Affairs
Conferences: Organized four conferences with delegates from diverse fields, including the Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court and High Court judges, senior police personnel, and domain experts. A fifth conference is scheduled in Mumbai on June 30.
iGOT Karmayogi Platform: Provided comprehensive guidance to individual civil service officials. Three training courses on the new criminal laws offered as a curated program, with almost 218,000 officials enrolled.
Planned Events
Higher Education Institutions: All UGC, AICTE, CFIs, and state/UT institutions to organize day-long activities on July 1, 2024. Group discussions, workshops, seminars on various provisions of the new criminal laws planned.
Police Stations: Events to be conducted across India to disseminate information about the new laws.
Conclusion
The new criminal laws — BNS, BNSS, and BSA — represent a significant shift in India's legal landscape.
The government's comprehensive preparations underscore the importance of these laws in ensuring justice, dignity, and citizen-centric governance.
The involvement of multiple ministries, extensive training programs, and widespread publicity efforts aim to ensure a smooth transition and effective implementation.
Importance for UPSC and Other Competitive Exams
This article is crucial for aspirants of various competitive exams like UPSC CSE, UPSC CAPF, Assistant Commandant, NDA, CDS, SSB Interview, AFCAT, IAS, IB ACIO, and others.
Understanding the new criminal law regime, its implementation, and its broader implications is essential for current affairs, essay writing, and general knowledge sections.
It provides a comprehensive overview, highlighting key aspects and preparations, making it a valuable resource for exam preparation.
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