in

Research protocol

1. Identify jurisdiction — Central Act or State law? Which state?
2. Find the Act — search with site:indiacode.nic.in plus the Act name or topic
3. Read the provision — open the section text with knowledge(command="read")
4. Check currency — look for amendments, repeal, or replacement and the commencement notification in the e-Gazette (critical — many laws recently replaced)
5. Verify citations — every section number you cite must appear in the text you read
6. Web search — For Supreme Court decisions (indiankanoon.org), Law Commission reports

• Constitution of India (1950) — Supreme law; Articles numbered to 395 (many inserted, e.g. 21A), 12 Schedules; Fundamental Rights (Part III, Arts. 12-35) enforceable against the state via Arts. 32/226; Union, State and Concurrent Lists (7th Schedule)

Court System

Supreme Court of India (New Delhi)
    ↑
High Courts (25 — one per state/group of states)
    ↑
District Courts / Sessions Courts
    ↑
Civil Judge Courts / Judicial Magistrate Courts
    ↑
Executive Magistrate Courts / Tribunals

Key legal areas

Criminal law — major reform in force 1 July 2024

• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 — Replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860; sections renumbered (murder IPC 302 → BNS 103, cheating IPC 420 → BNS 318)
• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 — Replaced CrPC 1973; FIR (incl. zero FIR and e-FIR) under s. 173, notice of appearance instead of arrest under s. 35
• Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023 — Replaced the Indian Evidence Act 1872; electronic records as primary evidence
• Transition — offences committed and proceedings pending before 1 July 2024 continue under IPC/CrPC (BNSS s. 531); always ask the date of the offence
• Key rights: Right to remain silent (Art. 20(3)), legal representation (Art. 22), bail; free legal aid via NALSA/DLSA
• POCSO Act 2012 — Protection of children from sexual offences

Civil Law & Procedure

• Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) 1908 — Civil court procedure
• Limitation Act 1963 — Time limits for suits (3 years for most contract and money claims; 12 years for possession of immovable property); late filing is barred unless delay is condoned where the Act allows
• Mediation Act 2023 — Pre-litigation mediation framework; commercial disputes need pre-institution mediation under s. 12A Commercial Courts Act
• Specific Relief Act 1963 — Specific performance, injunctions
• Transfer of Property Act 1882 — Sale, mortgage, lease, gift of property
• Registration Act 1908 — Compulsory registration of documents

Contract Law

• Indian Contract Act 1872 — Offer, acceptance, consideration, capacity
• Sale of Goods Act 1930 — Sale of movable goods
• Consumer Protection Act 2019 — Consumer Commissions by value paid: District up to ₹50 lakh, State to ₹2 crore, National above (2021 Rules); file within 2 years (s. 69), online via e-Daakhil
• Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 — ADR; India-seated arbitrations

Employment & Labour Law

• Labour Codes (in force from 21 November 2025) — Code on Wages 2019, Industrial Relations Code 2020, Code on Social Security 2020 (incl. 26 weeks' maternity benefit), OSH Code 2020; they consolidate 29 central laws, but old rules continue until central and state rules are notified — check which rules apply

Company & Business Law

• Companies Act 2013 (MCA21), LLP Act 2008, IBC 2016 (NCLT), FEMA 1999 (RBI), Competition Act 2002 (CCI)

Property Law

• Transfer of Property Act 1882 and Registration Act 1908 (above) — unregistered sale deeds do not pass title
• RERA 2016 — Real Estate Regulation; state RERA authorities
• Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 — Compulsory acquisition; compensation

Data Protection & Privacy

• Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023 — DPDP Rules notified 13–14 November 2025: Data Protection Board live at once, consent-manager rules after 12 months (Nov 2026), notice/consent/security/breach duties after 18 months (May 2027); penalties up to ₹250 crore
• IT Act 2000 (amended 2008) — Cybercrime, electronic records, digital signatures; SPDI Rules 2011 apply until DPDP duties start
• CERT-In — Cyber incidents must be reported within 6 hours (2022 Directions)

Tax

• Income-tax Act 2025 — Replaced the Income-tax Act 1961 from 1 April 2026 (tax year 2026-27 onward); earlier years stay under the 1961 Act; section numbers changed
• CGST/IGST Acts 2017 — GST; rate slabs were rationalised in September 2025 — check current rates

Intellectual Property

• Patents Act 1970 (20 years), Trade Marks Act 1999, Copyright Act 1957 (life + 60), Designs Act 2000; CGPDTM

Family Law (Personal Laws)

• Hindu Marriage Act 1955 — Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs
• Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act 1937 — Muslims; instant triple talaq void and an offence (Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act 2019)
• Indian Christian Marriage Act 1872 — Christians
• Special Marriage Act 1954 — Inter-faith and civil marriages
• Hindu Succession Act 1956 — Inheritance for Hindus
• Guardians and Wards Act 1890 — Child custody
• Uniform Civil Code Uttarakhand 2024 — State law in force from 27 January 2025 (marriage, divorce, live-in registration, succession) — ask the state

Resources

• indiacode.nic.in (official central legislation), sci.gov.in, indiankanoon.org (free case law), mca.gov.in
• NALSA (nalsa.gov.in) and State/District Legal Services Authorities — free legal aid; Bar Council of India
• National Consumer Helpline — consumerhelpline.gov.in (1915)