AIBE Important Questions on Criminal Law 2026: BNS, BNSS, BSA

AIBE important questions on criminal law come from three Codes: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), all in force from 1 July 2024. In the AIBE XXII syllabus (dated 13 October 2026) the IPC/BNS carries 8 questions and the CrPC/BNSS 10, so criminal law alone is 18 of the 100 questions on 29 November 2026, before you count 8 more on evidence. The questions that repeat are old-to-new section mapping, new offences, bail and arrest provisions, and a short list of landmark judgments.

How AIBE asks criminal law questions

Most AIBE important questions on criminal law ask which BNS or BNSS section matches an old IPC or CrPC number, which offence is new, which section governs bail or arrest, or which provision fits a two-line fact pattern. Since either code may be used, learn both numbers for the top 40 provisions and carry clean Bare Acts (see the AIBE XXII Bare Acts list).

High-yield BNS sections with old IPC numbers

New offences to know: sexual intercourse by deceitful means (s.69), murder by a group of five or more on grounds such as race, caste, community, sex, place of birth, language or personal belief (s.103(2)), organised crime (s.111), petty organised crime (s.112), terrorist act (s.113), snatching (s.304), and acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India (s.152, which takes the place of sedition, IPC s.124A). Hit and run under s.106(2) has not been brought into force. Dropped: IPC s.309 (attempt to suicide as a general offence), s.377 (unnatural offences) and s.497 (adultery). Also note s.2(3): “child” means a person below eighteen.

More rows: IPC to BNS conversion table.

High-yield BNSS and BSA provisions

• FIR: s.173 (old 154). Zero FIR and e-FIR in s.173(1); e-FIR to be signed within three days; free copy under s.173(2); preliminary enquiry within 14 days for offences punishable with 3 years or more but less than 7 years, with DSP-level permission (s.173(3)).
• Arrest and custody: s.35 (old 41 and 41A merged); grounds of arrest s.47; 24-hour limit s.58; police custody s.187 (old 167), 15 days usable in parts within the first 40 or 60 days.
• Bail: s.478 bailable (old 436); s.479 undertrial detention, first-time offender after one-third (old 436A); s.480 non-bailable (old 437); s.482 anticipatory (old 438); s.483 High Court and Sessions Court (old 439).
• Others: s.175(3) Magistrate’s order to investigate (old 156(3)); s.144 maintenance (old 125); s.289 plea bargaining (old 265A).
• New: videography of search and seizure (s.105), forensic visit for offences punishable with 7 years or more (s.176(3)), trial in absentia (s.356), witness protection (s.398). High Court inherent powers: s.528 (old 482).
• BSA: confession to police inadmissible s.23(1) (old 25); in custody s.23(2) (old 26); discovery of fact now a proviso to s.23 (old 27); dying declaration s.26(a) (old 32(1)); electronic record certificate s.63 (old 65B).

Landmark judgments AIBE likes

• Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh (2013): FIR registration is mandatory when a cognizable offence is disclosed.
• D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997): arrest and custody safeguards.
• Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar (2014): no routine arrest for offences punishable up to seven years; notice of appearance first.
• Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab (1980): death penalty only in the “rarest of rare” cases.
• Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018) (s.377 read down) and Joseph Shine v. Union of India (2018) (adultery struck down).
• Arjun Panditrao Khotkar v. Kailash Kushanrao Gorantyal (2020): certificate for electronic evidence (old s.65B, now BSA s.63).

Practice MCQs: AIBE important questions on criminal law

1. Common intention, earlier IPC s.34, is now found in: (A) BNS s.3(5) (B) BNS s.34 (C) BNS s.61 (D) BNS s.190

   Answer

   A. BNS s.3(5) restates joint liability for common intention; s.34 BNS is private defence.

2. Murder by a group of five or more persons on the ground of caste or community is punishable under: (A) s.101 (B) s.103(2) (C) s.111 (D) s.113

   Answer

   B. BNS s.103(2) is the new group murder (mob lynching) provision.

3. Which IPC provision has no counterpart in the BNS? (A) s.498A (B) s.304B (C) s.377 (D) s.420

   Answer

   C. Unnatural offences under IPC s.377 were not carried into the BNS.

4. Zero FIR is recognised in: (A) BNSS s.154 (B) BNSS s.173(1) (C) BNSS s.175(3) (D) BNSS s.180

   Answer

   B. Information may be given “irrespective of the area where the offence is committed”.

5. Anticipatory bail under the BNSS is granted under: (A) s.478 (B) s.480 (C) s.482 (D) s.528

   Answer

   C. s.482 BNSS replaces CrPC s.438.

6. The inherent powers of the High Court (old CrPC s.482) are now saved by BNSS: (A) s.482 (B) s.483 (C) s.528 (D) s.531

   Answer

   C. s.528 BNSS; a common trap because the old number 482 is now anticipatory bail.

7. A forensic expert’s visit to the crime scene is mandatory for offences punishable with: (A) 3 years or more (B) 7 years or more (C) 10 years or more (D) life only

   Answer

   B. BNSS s.176(3).

8. A first-time undertrial may be released on bond after undergoing what part of the maximum sentence? (A) One-fourth (B) One-third (C) One-half (D) Two-thirds

   Answer

   B. BNSS s.479; others get the benefit at one-half.

9. Trial in absentia of a proclaimed offender is provided in BNSS: (A) s.84 (B) s.289 (C) s.356 (D) s.398

   Answer

   C. s.356; s.84 is proclamation and s.398 the witness protection scheme.

10. A dying declaration is relevant under BSA: (A) s.15 (B) s.23 (C) s.26(a) (D) s.63

    Answer

    C. BSA s.26(a) corresponds to Evidence Act s.32(1).

Try the free 50-question AIBE mock, then move to the AIBE XXII Mock Tests (₹149): five full papers, criminal law set on the new Codes with old IPC/CrPC references.

Frequently asked questions

What are the AIBE important questions on criminal law for 2026?

The most repeated AIBE important questions on criminal law test IPC to BNS and CrPC to BNSS section mapping, new offences such as organised crime (BNS s.111) and snatching (s.304), bail provisions (BNSS ss.478 to 483), and the FIR rules in BNSS s.173. A small set of landmark cases such as Lalita Kumari, D.K. Basu and Arnesh Kumar also appears often.

Will AIBE XXII ask IPC or BNS sections?

Both. The AIBE XXII syllabus dated 13 October 2026 says questions may come under the old code or its new replacement. Learn both numbers for the main provisions and carry the new Bare Acts.

How many criminal law questions come in AIBE?

In the AIBE XXII syllabus, IPC and BNS have 8 questions and CrPC and BNSS have 10, a total of 18. Evidence Act and BSA add 8 more, so criminal law and evidence together make up 26 of 100 questions.

Quick quiz

For the whole syllabus in one place, the AIBE XXII Complete Pack (₹499) has five mocks, the 300-MCQ bank and the IPC-to-BNS guide.

Sources

• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023; Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (sections as cited above)
• Bar Council of India Trust, AIBE XXII Syllabus dated 13.10.2026; BCI Press Release dated 18.07.2026
• Supreme Court judgments named in the list above

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 29 October 2026.