Aspect 

IPC 

BNS 

Organization and Numbering 

• • Starts from section 121. 
  • Contains extensive annotations and historical references. 
  • Separate provisions for various offences. 

• • Starts from section 147. 
  • More streamlined with fewer annotations. 
  • Consolidated sections for better clarity. 

Language and Clarity 

• • Contains archaic expressions and older legal terminology. 
  • Less explicit definitions of technical terms. 

• • Uses contemporary language with clearer sentence structures. 
  • Better defined technical terms for easier understanding. 

Historical Context 

• • Includes extensive footnotes documenting amendments. 
  • Preserves older references (e.g., "Queen," "Governor General") 
  • Mentions "British India" in territorial references. 

• • Fewer historical references. 
  • Uses modern references reflecting current governance. 
  • Uses "India" to reflect present-day terminology. 

Scope of Offences 

• • Focuses on traditional anti-state activities. 
  • Less explicit about separatist threats. 
  • Provides sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

• • Expands definition to include electronic communication and financial activities. 
  • Explicitly addresses separatist activities and threats to national unity. 
  • Strengthens provisions on national security concerns. 

Penalties and Punishment 

• • Severe penalties for serious offences. 
  • Fines and punishments vary by section. 
  • Life imprisonment for major offences. 

• • Maintains severe penalties. 
  • Standardizes fine provisions. 
  • Retains life imprisonment for serious crimes. 

Notable Additions 

• • No equivalent section for electronic communication. 
  • Lacks explicit mention of modern separatist activities. 
  • No protective clause for government criticism. 

• • Section 152 introduces provisions for digital communications. 
  • Directly addresses modern separatist concerns. 
  • Includes a protective clause for legitimate criticism. 

Treatment of State Prisoners 

• • Similar provisions for handling prisoners of war. 
  • Consistent liability approach for public servants. 
  • Differentiates voluntary vs. negligent acts. 

• • Maintains similar provisions. 
  • Retains approach to public servant liability. 
  • Continues differentiation between voluntary and negligent acts. 

Core Offences 

• • Waging war against the state as a primary offense. 
  • Strong conspiracy laws. 
  • Protection of high officials. 

• • Maintains waging war as a key offense. 
  • Conspiracy provisions remain intact. 
  • Continues prioritization of high officials' security. 

Defensive Mechanisms 

• • Strong laws against war preparation. 
  • Similar approach to managing foreign relations. 
  • Harboring and aiding offenders prohibited. 

• • Retains provisions against war preparation. 
  • Maintains approach to foreign relations. 
  • Consistently penalizes harboring and aiding offenders. 

Legal Evolution and Modernization 

• • Some alignment with constitutional values. 
  • Weaker focus on democratic institutions. 
  • Limited focus on national unity. 

• • Reflects constitutional principles more explicitly. 
  • Strengthens protection of democratic institutions. 
  • Greater on national unity and integrity. 

Procedural Updates 

• • Procedural guidelines are less detailed. 
  • Less integration with other legal provisions. 
  • Some definitions are vague or broad. 

• • Clearer procedural guidelines. 
  • Better integration with modern laws. 
  • More precise definitions of offences.