--- title: "IPC or BNS? Finding which criminal law applies | Vakilat" description: "Dates and stage in Vakilat: the criminal code that applies, worked out by fixed rules from your dates and quoted from the savings sections." url: https://www.vakilat.io/videos/new-criminal-laws publisher: "Vakilat" --- # IPC or BNS? Last updated 27 October 2026 Dates and stage in Vakilat: the criminal code that applies, worked out by fixed rules from your dates and quoted from the savings sections. 1 minute 18 seconds. Filmed on https://app.vakilat.io on 21 October 2026 with a demonstration account. The answers are real ones, shown as a demonstration, and are not legal advice. ## What the film shows Since 1 July 2024 the BNS, BNSS and BSA have replaced the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act, and which code governs a matter can turn on when the conduct happened and the stage of the case. In Vakilat you give those facts under Dates and stage. The answer then opens with the applicable law, worked out by fixed rules and quoted from the official repeal and savings sections. Where a fact is missing, it shows what each possibility would mean. Search works across both codes, so BNSS 482 finds the judgments on Section 438 CrPC. ## Chapters 1. [0:00 Introduction](https://www.vakilat.io/videos/new-criminal-laws?t=0) 2. [0:13 Dates and stage](https://www.vakilat.io/videos/new-criminal-laws?t=13) 3. [0:29 Ask](https://www.vakilat.io/videos/new-criminal-laws?t=29) 4. [0:36 Applicable law](https://www.vakilat.io/videos/new-criminal-laws?t=36) 5. [1:01 Search by section](https://www.vakilat.io/videos/new-criminal-laws?t=61) ## Transcript On the first of July 2024, India's criminal codes changed. So every criminal matter starts with one question: which law applies? Open Dates and stage, and give what you know: when the alleged conduct happened, the stage of the case, and the sections invoked. Then ask your question as usual. The answer opens with Applicable law, worked out by fixed rules from the dates you gave, not by AI. The conduct was in November 2023, so the Indian Penal Code governs the offence. Where a fact is missing, Vakilat does not guess. It shows what each possibility would mean. Every rule is quoted from the official text: the repeal and savings sections, and the notifications that brought the new codes into force. Search works across both codes too. BNSS 482 brings up the judgments on Section 438 of the CrPC. Vakilat. Research you can check. ## Try it yourself [Ask Vakilat a question from your own practice](https://app.vakilat.io). Five research runs are free, with no card. - [Every IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act section with its new counterpart](https://www.vakilat.io/law) ## More films - [Answers you can check: how Vakilat checks citations and quotations](https://www.vakilat.io/videos/checked-answers) - [Deep research: a plan you approve, then three researchers](https://www.vakilat.io/videos/deep-research) - [Ask in your language: Vakilat in 22 Indian languages](https://www.vakilat.io/videos/your-language) - [Search and read Supreme Court judgments, free on every plan](https://www.vakilat.io/videos/search-and-read) - [Ask Vakilat, on the home page](https://www.vakilat.io/)