Short title, application and commencement.
What this section does
This section gives the short title of the Act as the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. It applies to all judicial proceedings before any Court including Courts-martial, but expressly excludes affidavits presented to any Court or officer and proceedings before arbitrators. It comes into force on a date notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette.
AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).
The rule in one line
The BSA applies to all judicial proceedings (including Courts-martial) but not to affidavits or arbitration proceedings.
When it applies
- A criminal trial before a Sessions Court is governed by the BSA.
- Proceedings before a private arbitrator are excluded from the BSA's application.
Derived from IEA s.1.
Read the official text
For the binding statutory text of BSA Section 1, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.
Why this matters
BSA Section 1 forms part of Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam which replaced the Indian Evidence Act 1872 on 1 July 2024. Any new filing, FIR, charge sheet, or bail application made on or after that date should cite the new section number. References to the old act in legacy documents remain valid for matters that arose before the changeover.