Medical law: BNS, BNSS and BSA: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Medical law: BNS, BNSS and BSA

Sample item

A murder was committed on 10 June 2024 and the accused is being tried in 2025. Which law applies to the charge?

AThe Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam for the definition of the offenceBWhichever code prescribes the lighter punishment, chosen by the judgeCThe Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, because the trial is nowDThe Indian Penal Code, because the offence occurred before 1 July 2024

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. The Indian Penal Code, because the offence occurred before 1 July 2024

The BNS, BNSS and BSA came into force on 1 July 2024. Offences committed before that date continue to be charged under the IPC, in line with the constitutional bar on retrospective penal laws (Article 20(1)). The BSA concerns evidence, not the definition of offences.

Option by option

A. The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam for the definition of the offence
The BSA replaced the Evidence Act and does not define offences.
B. Whichever code prescribes the lighter punishment, chosen by the judge
The court does not pick a code by comparing punishments.
C. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, because the trial is now
The date of trial does not determine which penal code applies.
D. The Indian Penal Code, because the offence occurred before 1 July 2024 (correct)
Correct. The offence date decides the substantive penal law.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, The Indian Penal Code, because the offence occurred before 1 July 2024. The BNS, BNSS and BSA came into force on 1 July 2024.

Why is "The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam for the definition of the offence" not the answer?

The BSA replaced the Evidence Act and does not define offences.

Why is "Whichever code prescribes the lighter punishment, chosen by the judge" not the answer?

The court does not pick a code by comparing punishments.

Why is "The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, because the trial is now" not the answer?

The date of trial does not determine which penal code applies.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical law: BNS, BNSS and BSA in Forensic Medicine. Offences committed before that date continue to be charged under the IPC, in line with the constitutional bar on retrospective penal laws (Article 20(1)). The BSA concerns evidence, not the definition of offences.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Medical law: BNS, BNSS and BSA?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.