The Bare Acts, at the source.

Adopted on 26 November 1949 and fully in force from 26 January 1950. It sets out the fundamental rights and the writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court (Article 32) and the High Courts (Article 226).

Replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860 from 1 July 2024. Defines offences and their punishments, and adds provisions on organised crime, terrorist acts and community service as a punishment.

Replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 from 1 July 2024. Governs arrest, investigation, bail, trial and appeals, and makes wider use of electronic and audio-video procedures.

Replaced the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 from 1 July 2024. Governs relevance, admissibility and proof in civil and criminal proceedings, with fuller provision for electronic records.

Repealed with effect from 1 July 2024. Kept for reference, because it still governs offences committed before that date.

Repealed with effect from 1 July 2024. Kept for reference, because appeals, applications, trials, inquiries and investigations already pending on that date continue under it.

Repealed with effect from 1 July 2024. Kept for reference, because applications, trials, inquiries, investigations, proceedings and appeals already pending on that date are still dealt with under it.

In force from 1 July 2005. Defines the offence of money laundering. Provides for provisional attachment of the proceeds of crime by the Directorate of Enforcement, confirmation by the Adjudicating Authority, and trial and confiscation before Special Courts.

Covers bribery and criminal misconduct involving public servants. Several of its offences are scheduled offences under the PMLA.

Procedure for civil suits, interim relief, appeals, revisions and the execution of decrees.

Sets the time limits for filing suits, appeals and applications, and when a delay in filing an appeal or application may be condoned for sufficient cause.

Remedies such as specific performance of contracts, injunctions, declarations and recovery of possession. Since the 2018 amendment, specific performance is granted as a rule, subject to the exceptions in the Act, rather than at the court's discretion.

Based on the UNCITRAL Model Law. Covers domestic and international commercial arbitration, interim measures by courts and arbitral tribunals, and the challenge and enforcement of awards.

Provides a statutory framework for mediation, including pre-litigation, online and community mediation. Only part of the Act is in force so far, chiefly the provisions on the Mediation Council of India (from 9 October 2023). The provisions on the conduct of mediation, including pre-litigation, online and community mediation, and on enforcing mediated settlements have not yet been notified, so check the current position before relying on them.

Governs transfers of property between living persons, chiefly the sale, mortgage, lease, exchange and gift of immovable property, and protects a transferee who takes possession in part performance of a written contract.

Specifies which documents must be registered, including most instruments affecting immovable property, and the consequences of not registering them.

Stamp duty on instruments and the effect of insufficient stamping. It applies in Uttar Pradesh with State amendments, and the State sets the rates for instruments such as conveyances and leases.

U.P. Act No. 8 of 2012, fully in force from 11 February 2016. Consolidates land tenure and land revenue law in Uttar Pradesh, replacing the U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, the U.P. Land Revenue Act, 1901 and other enactments.

Requires real estate projects and agents to register. Sets up State regulatory authorities and appellate tribunals, and sets out remedies for allottees.

Conditions for a valid Hindu marriage, restitution of conjugal rights, judicial separation, nullity, divorce (including by mutual consent), interim maintenance, permanent alimony and custody of children.

Civil marriage and its registration regardless of religion, including interfaith marriages, with provisions for separation and divorce.

Intestate succession among Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs. The 2005 amendment made daughters coparceners by birth in a Mitakshara joint Hindu family, with the same rights and liabilities as sons.

In force from 26 October 2006. Civil remedies for women facing domestic violence, including protection, residence, monetary relief, custody and compensation orders.

Appointment and declaration of guardians of a minor's person and property. Often relied on in custody proceedings, where the welfare of the child is the paramount consideration.

Sets up Family Courts for matrimonial, maintenance, custody and related disputes, and places a duty on the court to attempt a settlement first.

General principles of contract: formation, free consent, performance, breach and damages, together with indemnity, guarantee, bailment and agency.

Sets up Commercial Courts and Commercial Divisions for specified commercial disputes. Requires pre-institution mediation for suits that do not seek urgent interim relief.

Law on promissory notes, bills of exchange and cheques, including criminal liability for dishonour of a cheque under Section 138.

Time-bound insolvency resolution and liquidation for corporate persons, heard by the National Company Law Tribunal. Provisions for individuals and partnership firms apply only to the extent notified.

Act No. 30 of 2025, in force from 1 April 2026 in place of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Replaces the separate 'previous year' and 'assessment year' with a single 'tax year'.

Repealed with effect from 1 April 2026. Kept for reference, because it still governs income of previous years that began before that date (up to assessment year 2026–27) and proceedings for those years.

Levy and collection of central tax on intra-State supplies of goods and services from 1 July 2017, together with assessment, demand, appeals and offences. Read with the IGST Act and the U.P. GST Act.

Registration and protection of trade marks, opposition and rectification, and remedies for infringement and passing off.

Copyright in literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works (including computer programmes), films and sound recordings, along with licensing and civil and criminal remedies.

Patentability, the application and grant process, pre-grant and post-grant opposition, compulsory licensing and infringement.

Registration and protection of industrial designs, and remedies against piracy of a registered design. Replaced the Designs Act, 1911.