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Glossary Terms
| Term (EN) | Definition | Exam Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| BNSS | Criminal procedure code replacing CrPC 1973; 531 sections; effective 1 Jul 2024 | Core identity |
| CrPC | Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 — replaced by BNSS; 484 sections | Historical context |
| FIR | First Information Report — first step in registering a cognisable offence | Core procedure |
| Zero FIR | FIR registered regardless of jurisdiction; transferred to correct station within 15 days | BNSS S.173 |
| E-FIR | Electronically filed FIR; legally equivalent to physical FIR | New provision |
| Cognisable offence | Police can arrest without warrant + investigate without Magistrate's order | FIR basis |
| Non-cognisable offence | Warrant needed for arrest; Magistrate's order for investigation | Complaint basis |
| Chargesheet | Final police report after investigation; filed before Magistrate | S.193 |
| Bail | Release of accused from custody pending trial; bailable/non-bailable | Core concept |
| Anticipatory bail | Pre-arrest bail; granted by Sessions Court/High Court in anticipation of arrest | S.482 |
| Undertrial | Person in custody awaiting trial; ~75% of Indian prison population | Reform context |
| Trial in absentia | Trial proceeding when accused deliberately absconds; valid after 90 days (S.356) | New provision |
| Proclaimed offender | Person declared absconding by court; enables absentia trial | S.356 |
| Forensic investigation | Scientific examination of crime scene; mandatory for 7+ yr offences (S.176) | New provision |
| Plea bargaining | Negotiated settlement — reduced charge for guilty plea; for offences up to 7 years | S.289–296 |
| Sessions trial | Trial for serious offences (7+ yrs) before Sessions Judge | Trial type |
| Summons trial | Simplified trial for minor offences (up to 2 yrs); no elaborate evidence | Trial type |
| Remand | Custody of accused person during investigation/trial | Procedure |
| Committal | Transfer of case by Magistrate to Sessions Court for serious offences | Procedure |
| Panchnama | Official record of scene of crime/seizure witnessed by panchas (witnesses) | Evidence document |
| Victim compensation | Compensation by accused to victim; court can order (S.395) | Victim right |
| Witness protection | Protection of witnesses in sensitive cases; SC Mahendra Chawla 2018 scheme | Victim/witness |
| Video-conferencing | Remote trial participation; evidence via video link (S.530) | Digital provision |
| Community service | Punishment alternative to jail for minor offences; also referenced in BNSS procedure | New punishment |
| BSA (Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam) | Evidence law replacing Indian Evidence Act 1872; third reform law with BNS and BNSS | Companion law |
Sources: Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 (Act 46 of 2023); Ministry of Home Affairs Gazette Notification; Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs report on BNSS; Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (for comparison); Supreme Court judgment in Selvi v. State of Karnataka (2010) on narco-analysis; Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia v. State of Punjab (1980) on anticipatory bail; Mahender Chawla v. UOI (2018) on witness protection; NCRB Prison Statistics India 2022; PRS Legislative Research analysis of BNSS.