Why in News? 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah marked the completion of one year of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. He highlighted that these new criminal laws aim to make the justice system affordable, accessible and transparent. 

The New Criminal Laws 

• The three new laws seek to move away from colonial-era punitive models and focus on delivering justice, while incorporating modern technology in police investigations and judicial processes. 
• These laws now recognise crimes like terrorism, mob lynching and organized crime, and introduce stricter penalties for offences against women and children. 

Features of New Criminal Laws 

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 

• Sedition law was removed, but a new provision punishes acts like secessionism, separatism, rebellion and anything against India's sovereignty and unity. 
• Death penalty introduced for sexual assault of minors and incidents of mob lynching. 
• Community service was added as a punishment option for the first time in Indian law. 

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 

• Investigation, trial, and judgement to be completed within 30 days after arguments conclude. 
• Mandatory video-recording of statements by sexual assault victims. 
• The new provision allows for attachment of property and proceeds of crime. 

Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023 

• Recognizes electronic and digital evidence such as emails, server logs, SMS, mobile data, location info, etc., as valid documents. 
• All legal records like FIRs, charge sheets, case diaries, and judgements to be digitised. 
• Digital evidence will have the same legal status as traditional paper records.