Reforms in the Indian Criminal Justice System

India's criminal justice system underwent its most significant transformation since independence when the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act from 1 July 2024. This paper examines the background and key provisions of the new codes — including the Zero FIR, electronic FIR, mandatory forensic investigation, time-bound trials, and community service as punishment — evaluating their claim to make the system more efficient and victim-centric. It also engages with concerns around expanded police powers, ambiguous drafting, and uneven implementation, arguing that the reforms' success ultimately depends on institutional capacity and consistent, rights-respecting enforcement across India.