Assam has emerged as one of India’s best-performing states in implementing the country’s three new criminal laws, according to officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The state has been ranked among the top five performers in the country for effectively rolling out the new legal framework that replaced the colonial-era criminal laws from July 1, 2024. According to the ministry, Haryana secured the top position in the national rankings, followed by Goa, Assam, Chandigarh and Punjab. The assessment was based on four key parameters—administrative reforms, operational efficiency, the use of information and communication technology (ICT), and the integration of digital systems. Officials said the weightage assigned to these parameters is reviewed periodically to ensure an accurate assessment of implementation. The three new criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—were introduced to modernise India’s criminal justice system by replacing the colonial-era legal framework. The objective of these reforms is to ensure that criminal cases move from the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) to a final verdict by the Supreme Court within three years.
Officials said one of the major pillars of the reform process is the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) 2.0, a common digital platform designed to improve coordination among police, courts, prisons, forensic laboratories and prosecution agencies. So far, 23 states and Union Territories have been fully integrated with the upgraded digital platform, enabling faster exchange of information and more efficient case management. The ministry said the implementation of the new laws has already produced encouraging results across the country. The percentage of charge sheets filed within the mandatory 90-day deadline has increased from 39.56 per cent in 2024 to 60.96 per cent in 2026. Compliance with the mandatory 60-day timeline has also improved significantly, rising from 50.92 per cent in 2024 to 67.26 per cent in 2026. Officials added that investigation timelines in cases involving sexual offences have also improved. The proportion of charge sheets filed within the prescribed two-month period increased from 44 per cent in 2024 to 75.16 per cent in 2025, reflecting faster investigation and prosecution under the new legal framework. The ministry further stated that since the new criminal laws came into force, police agencies across the country have registered 74.66 lakh FIRs under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 63,572 Zero FIRs. Investigating agencies have also generated 46.50 lakh digital evidence IDs through the e-Sakshya application, strengthening the collection, preservation and management of digital evidence.
To support scientific investigation, the Centre has sanctioned eight additional Central Forensic Science Laboratories, increasing the total number of such laboratories in the country to 15. Officials said the expansion is expected to improve forensic support for criminal investigations and reduce delays in case processing. The ministry also noted that while Haryana, Goa, Assam, Chandigarh and Punjab emerged as the top-performing regions, states such as West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have also made significant progress in implementing various provisions of the new criminal laws. For Assam, the recognition highlights the state’s steady progress in adopting technology-driven policing, improving investigation standards and strengthening coordination across different wings of the criminal justice system. The Centre’s assessment places Assam among the leading states in the nationwide transition to the new legal framework, reflecting its efforts to ensure faster investigations, timely filing of charge sheets and more efficient delivery of justice.
