IPC §57 → BNS §6

Fractions of terms of punishment

Substantively sameConfidence: highStatus: cross checked
View government sourcemha.gov.in(opens the Indian Penal Code, 1860 PDF on mha.gov.in in a new tab)
Last updated 2026-05-01 · Input coverage: full

Compiled by AI-assisted tools. Text verified against official sources where indicated. Field-level labels (AI-indicated / AI-inferred / Text-verified) apply per edge metadata. Verify current bail/cognizable status against official sources before relying on procedural claims. Last updated: 2026-05-02.

Jump to section

Comparison

Old law
IPC §57
Fractions of terms of punishment

57. Fractions of terms of punishment.—In calculating fractions of terms of punishment, 2[imprisonment] for life shall be reckoned as equivalent to2[imprisonment] for twenty years.

New law
BNS §6
Fractions of terms of punishment

In calculating fractions of terms of punishment, imprisonment for life shall be reckoned as equivalent to imprisonment for twenty years unless otherwise provided.

What changedAI-inferred

BNS Section 6 carries the same 20-year equivalence with a new tail clause: unless otherwise provided. The operative rule is unchanged; the tail makes explicit the standard interpretive principle that a specific provision can override a general default.

Old position

IPC Section 57 fixed an absolute calculation rule: imprisonment for life shall be reckoned as equivalent to imprisonment for twenty years for the purpose of calculating fractions of terms.

New position

BNS Section 6 carries the same 20-year equivalence with a new tail clause: unless otherwise provided. The operative rule is unchanged; the tail makes explicit the standard interpretive principle that a specific provision can override a general default.

Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)

IPC Section 57 fixed an absolute equivalence: imprisonment for life shall be reckoned as equivalent to imprisonment for twenty years for the purpose of calculating fractions of terms. BNS Section 6 carries the same equivalence with a new tail clause: unless otherwise provided. Per project doctrine, codification of defeasibility ("unless otherwise provided", "subject to...") is drafting clarification, not legal change — it makes explicit the standard interpretive principle that a specific provision can override a general default. The 20-year equivalence remains the operative default; no envelope expansion, contraction, or conditional restructuring of the rule.

Transitional note (repeal & savings)

For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 57 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 6 applies. The transition is governed by the repeal-and-savings clause in the new code (BNS 358 / BNSS 531 / BSA 170 as the case may be); pending proceedings under the old code carry forward in their existing frame.

Frequently asked

BNS Section 6. The 20-year equivalence rule for fraction calculations is preserved.

Government source

The statutory text above is compiled from the Act as published by the Government of India. The links open the full Act; use the PDF's search to find the section number. The linked government pages offer no link to a single section.

Newlaws.in is an independent site, not a government body. The mappings and notes on this page are its own AI-assisted comparison and are not published or endorsed by any government body.

Sources

Cite this page

Newlaws.in, IPC §57 → BNS §6 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-10-29, https://newlaws.in/ipc/57.

Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01

Not legal advice. Verify against the bare act and consult a qualified advocate for any specific matter.