Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Offences and Penalties): A commentary by J.K. Verma is a treatise on the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), which repealed and replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Numerous amendments had been made to the IPC over time to keep pace with changing times. However, the basic framework was rooted in a colonial mindset. Given significant sociological and scientific developments since independence, the provisions of the IPC increasingly required a thorough overhaul to achieve the goals set by the Constitution and fulfill the aspirations of the people.\n\nThe BNS now has 358 sections instead of the earlier 511 sections in the IPC, with 175 sections changed, 8 new sections added, and 22 sections repealed. Importantly, all the definitions spread over 34 sections in the IPC have been consolidated into one section. The BNS introduces the terms ”child” and ”transgender”, adds 20 new offences (including environmental pollution, human trafficking, organised crime, and terrorism), and omits 19 provisions of the IPC. Imprisonment has been increased for 33 offences, fines for 83 offences, and mandatory minimum punishments for 23 offences. Community service has been introduced for six offences. The term ”unsound mind” is replaced by ”mental illness.” Further, the offences of adultery and unnatural sex have been omitted.\n\nPrefatory notes by Manisha Karia, Prof. K.I. Vibhute, Prof. Kumar Askand Pandey and Sanjay Vashishtha, who are prominent criminal law academicians and practitioners, will be quite useful and informative for readers.\n\nThe book also includes a comparative table showing the correspondence between the provisions of the old law and those of the new law.\n\nOverall, this book will be immensely useful to legal practitioners, students, law school faculty members, and anyone interested in understanding this new law on offences and penalties.\n\nKey Features:\n\n\nDate of Enforcement Notification\n\nKey Highlights of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023\n\nComparative Tables of sections old versus new and new versus old\n\nTable of new provisions introduced in new Act\n\nTable of provisions of IPC, 1860 omitted in new Act\n\nCorresponding law under each section of new Act\n\nArticles and comments of legal experts