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About DharaSetu

The bridge between India’s old and new criminal law

On 1 July 2024, India replaced the three pillars of its criminal justice system. Almost every section number changed overnight. DharaSetu exists so that no advocate, student, or citizen is left translating the law by hand.

Why DharaSetu exists

DharaSetu — from dhara (धारा), the Hindi word for a section of law, and setu (सेतु), a bridge — is a free, bilingual reference tool for the 2024 criminal-law overhaul. When the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act were repealed and replaced, decades of muscle memory became obsolete. A lawyer who has cited “Section 302” for twenty years now has to reach for “Section 103(1) BNS” mid-hearing.

We turn that lookup into a one-second, verified answer — in English or Hindi — so the transition costs you neither time nor confidence.

The 2024 overhaul, in three codes

Three new statutes came into force together on 1 July 2024. Each of our converters maps the old section to its new equivalent, with the reverse lookup built in.

The tools we build

A growing suite of converters, calculators, and lookups — the free ones stay free, forever.

Guides & plain-language explainers

Deep-dives that go beyond the section number — what actually changed, and what it means for your matter.

How we keep it accurate

Gazette-referenced

Every mapping is cross-checked against official government comparative tables — the Bureau of Police Research & Development and the National Crime Records Bureau.

Sourced & dated

Each entry carries its source and a verification date. We do not use AI to generate section numbers or citations — those come from primary references only.

Verify-first

Every result links back to the same reminder: confirm against the official bare Act and consult an advocate before you rely on it.

Who DharaSetu is for

Practising advocates

A citation you can trust mid-hearing, without flipping through a comparison chart.

Law students

Learn the new codes against the sections you already know, side by side.

The public

Understand an FIR or a news report that still quotes the old law.

What DharaSetu is — and is not

DharaSetu is a software product, not a law firm. It does not represent clients, file cases, or give legal advice. It is a reference tool: fast, bilingual, and honest about its limits. For advice on your specific situation, speak to a qualified advocate.

Free to start, Pro for regular use

Guides are free for everyone, unlimited, with no sign-up. The IPC → BNS converter gives 5 free lookups, and you can create a case brief and track up to 3 cases for free. Pro (₹299/mo or ₹2,699/yr) unlocks everything — unlimited lookups, saved cases, all draft generators, court-format citation export, an unlimited case-deadline tracker, and judgment references for working lawyers.

See pricing

Frequently asked questions

When did India’s new criminal laws come into force?
The BNS, BNSS, and BSA all came into force on 1 July 2024, replacing the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act respectively.
What is the BNS equivalent of IPC 302?
IPC Section 302 (murder) corresponds to Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. You can confirm any section using our IPC → BNS converter.
Is DharaSetu free?
Guides are free forever, unlimited, with no sign-up. The IPC → BNS converter gives 5 free lookups, and you can create a case brief and track up to 3 cases for free. Pro (₹299/mo or ₹2,699/yr) unlocks unlimited lookups plus all drafting, export, and tracking tools.
Does DharaSetu give legal advice?
No. DharaSetu is a reference tool, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Always verify against the official bare Act and consult a qualified advocate for your matter.
How accurate are the section mappings?
Every mapping is cross-referenced against official government comparative tables and independent legal-reference sources, and carries a source and verification date. We never use AI to generate section numbers.