The UP APO exam pattern for 2025–2026 has transitioned to the new criminal laws. While the "spirit" of the questions remains similar to the last 5 years of PYQs (focusing on definitions, punishments, and procedures), you must now map those old concepts to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).
Here are the updated high-yield one-liners for your last-minute revision:
The New Criminal Laws: Rapid Revision
1. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) – Replaces IPC
- Consolidated Definitions: All definitions are now in Section 2, arranged alphabetically. (e.g., "Child" is a new addition in Sec 2(3), meaning anyone below 18).
- New Punishment: Community Service has been added as a sixth type of punishment (Sec 4).
- Common Intention: Old Sec 34 is now Section 3(5).
- General Exceptions: Now covered in Chapter III (Sections 14–44). Private Defense starts from Section 34.
- Murder vs Culpable Homicide: Culpable Homicide is Section 100; Murder is Section 101. Punishment for Murder is Sec 103.
- New Offence (Sexual Deceit): Section 69 criminalizes sexual intercourse by "deceitful means" or false promise of marriage.
- Organized Crime & Terrorism: Explicitly defined for the first time in Sections 111 (Organized Crime) and 113 (Terrorist Act).
- Sedition Removed: Old Sec 124A is gone. It is replaced by Section 152 (Acts endangering sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India).
- Common Intention: Section 34 (Old) is now Section 3(5).
- General Exceptions: Now covered from Section 14 to 44.
- Right of Private Defense: Now begins at Section 34.
- Abetment: Section 107 (Old) is now Section 45.
- Criminal Conspiracy: Section 120A/B (Old) is now Section 61.
- Culpable Homicide: Section 299 (Old) is now Section 100.
- Murder: Section 300 (Old) is now Section 101; Punishment is Section 103.
- Sexual Intercourse on False Promise: Newly codified as Section 69.
- Theft: Section 378 (Old) is now Section 303.
- Snatching: Now a distinct offense under Section 304.
- Sedition: Replaced by Section 152 (Acts endangering sovereignty/unity).
- Organized Crime: Newly defined under Section 111.
- Terrorist Act: Specifically defined under Section 113.
- Community Service: Introduced as a new form of punishment in Section 4.
2. Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) – Replaces CrPC
- Zero FIR: Now statutorily recognized under Section 173(1). You can lodge an FIR at any station regardless of jurisdiction.
- Electronic FIR: Allowed, but must be signed by the informant within 3 days to be officially on record.
- Arrest Safeguard: No arrest for offences punishable by < 3 years for persons over 60 or the infirm without permission from a DSP-rank officer (Sec 35(7)).
- Police Custody: Can be authorized in "whole or in parts" during the first 40 or 60 days of the investigation (Sec 187).
- Forensics: Mandatory visit by forensic experts for crimes punishable by 7 years or more (Sec 176).
- Trial in Absentia: A trial can proceed and a judgment can be given if a proclaimed offender absconds (Sec 356).
- Time Limits: Judgments must be delivered within 30 days of completion of arguments (extendable to 45).
- Definitions: Section 2 (Old) remains Section 2, now includes digital evidence terms.
- Arrest: Section 41 (Old) is now Section 35; no arrest for < 3 years for elderly/infirm without DSP permission (Sec 35(7)).
- Zero FIR: Statutorily recognized for the first time under Section 173.
- E-FIR: Allowed, but informant must sign within 3 days (Section 173(1)).
- Police Custody: Section 167 (Old) is now Section 187; 15-day custody allowed in parts over 40/60 days.
- Forensics: Mandatory for crimes punishable by 7+ years (Section 176).
- Maintenance: Section 125 (Old) is now Section 144.
- Summary Trial: Limit for summary trials increased to 3 years (Section 283).
- Proclaimed Offender: Trial in absentia is now permitted under Section 356.
- Judgment Deadline: Must be delivered within 30 days of closing arguments (Section 392).
3. Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) – Replaces Evidence Act
- Electronic Evidence: Now treated as Primary Evidence if it satisfies certain conditions, putting it on par with paper documents (Sections 57 & 61).
- Scope of "Document": Expanded to include semi-conductor memory, smartphones, and emails explicitly (Sec 2(1)(d)).
- Joint Trials: Now explicitly includes cases where one accused has absconded or not responded to a warrant (Section 24 explanation).
- Confessions: The core logic of Sections 24–27 of the IEA is preserved but restructured. Section 23 covers confessions to police (inadmissible).
- Document: Definition expanded in Section 2 to include all electronic/digital records.
- Res Gestae: Section 6 (Old) is now Section 4.
- Dying Declaration: Section 32(1) (Old) is now Section 26(a).
- Police Confession: Section 25 (Old) is now Section 23(1); still inadmissible.
- Discovery of Fact: Section 27 (Old) is now Section 23(2).
- Electronic Evidence: Section 65B (Old) is now Section 63.
- Burden of Proof: Section 101 (Old) is now Section 104.
- Accomplice: Section 133 (Old) is now Section 138.
🚔 UP Police Act & Regulations (Still 15 Marks)
- Departmental Punishment: Section 7 is still your "Golden Section" for departmental inquiries and dismissals.
- Police Diary: Must be maintained as per Section 44; cross-reference this with Section 167 of BNSS (Case Diary).
- Public Assemblies: Power to regulate remains under Section 30.
- Section 7: Deals with departmental punishment and dismissal of inferior officers.
- Section 17: Covers the appointment of Special Police Officers.
- Section 23: Outlines the general duties of police officers (prevention of crime).
- Section 29: Imposes penalties for neglect of duty by police officers.
- Section 34: Punishment for slaughtering cattle or obstructing roads in public view.
- Para 140-143: Procedures for conducting investigations and maintaining case diaries.
💡 Pro-Tip for the Exam
When you see a question based on a "Classic Case Law" (like K.M. Nanavati or D.K. Basu), the legal principle is usually the same, but if the question asks for the Section, make sure you don't mark the old IPC/CrPC number.
GS One-Liners (High-Yield)
- History: Focus on the Quit India Movement (1942) and Congress Sessions (Surat Split, Lucknow Pact).
- Polity: Article 14, 19, 21 and the 106th Amendment (Women's Reservation).
- Geography: Memorize the highest peaks in India and major tributaries of the Ganga.
- UP Special: UP Census 2011 (highest/lowest literacy) and One District One Product (ODOP) scheme.
Quick Mapping Table:
| Topic | Old Law (IPC/CrPC/IEA) | New Law (BNS/BNSS/BSA) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Murder | Sec 302 | Sec 103 |
| Theft | Sec 379 | Sec 303 |
| FIR | Sec 154 | Sec 173 |
| Maintenance | Sec 125 | Sec 144 |
| Dying Dec. | Sec 32(1) | Sec 26(a) |
Common Intention (The Postmaster Case)
- Case: Barendra Kumar Ghosh v. King Emperor
- Old Law: Section 34 IPC
- New Law: Section 3(5) BNS
- One-Liner: "They also serve who only stand and wait"—all participants are equally liable if there is a prior meeting of minds.
2. Grave and Sudden Provocation
- Case: K.M. Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra
- Old Law: Exception 1 to Section 300 IPC
- New Law: Exception 1 to Section 101 BNS
- One-Liner: To reduce murder to culpable homicide, the provocation must be such that the person loses the power of self-control.
3. Insanity Defense (M’Naghten Rules)
- Case: R v. M’Naghten / Dayabhai Thakkar v. State of Gujarat
- Old Law: Section 84 IPC
- New Law: Section 22 BNS
- One-Liner: Legal insanity (incapability of knowing the nature of the act) is required, not just medical insanity.
4. Rarest of Rare Doctrine
- Case: Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab
- Old Law: Section 302 IPC
- New Law: Section 103(1) BNS
- One-Liner: Death penalty should only be awarded in the "rarest of rare" cases where the alternative of life imprisonment is unquestionably foreclosed.
5. Arrest Guidelines & Custodial Torture
- Case: D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal
- Old Law: Section 41/41B CrPC
- New Law: Section 35 / 36 BNSS
- One-Liner: These mandatory guidelines (memo of arrest, right to inform a relative) are now explicitly codified in Section 35 and 36 of the BNSS.
6. Automatic Arrest Restrictions
- Case: Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar
- Old Law: Section 41A CrPC
- New Law: Section 35(3) BNSS
- One-Liner: Police must provide specific reasons for arrest if the offense is punishable by less than 7 years.
7. Dying Declaration (Circumstances of Transaction)
- Case: Pakala Narayana Swami v. Emperor
- Old Law: Section 32(1) IEA
- New Law: Section 26(a) BSA
- One-Liner: A statement is admissible even if the person was not in actual expectation of death at the time of making it.
8. Discovery of Fact (The Knife Recovery)
- Case: Pulukuri Kottaya v. Emperor
- Old Law: Section 27 IEA
- New Law: Section 23(2) BSA
- One-Liner: Only that part of a police confession which leads "distinctly" to the discovery of a physical fact is admissible.
9. FIR is Not Substantive Evidence
- Case: Hasib v. State of Bihar
- Old Law: Section 154 CrPC / Section 157 IEA
- New Law: Section 173 BNSS / Section 160 BSA
- One-Liner: An FIR can only be used to corroborate or contradict its maker; it is not proof of the facts mentioned therein.
10. Right to Silence
- Case: Nandini Satpathy v. P.L. Dani
- Old Law: Section 161(2) CrPC
- New Law: Section 180(2) BNSS
- One-Liner: No person is bound to answer questions that would have a tendency to expose them to a criminal charge.
Quick Revision Tip
In the UP APO exam, "Match the Following" questions often pair these case names with the legal concept. If you see "Res Gestae," look for Section 4 of BSA (Old Sec 6). If you see "Necessity," look for Section 19 of BNS (Old Sec 81).
If you see "Punishment for Murder," do not look for 302. Look for 103. If you see "Theft," do not look for 379. Look for 303.
Final OMR Drill: Muscle Memory Check
Your most common trap will be muscle memory. Before you shade the circle, run this mental check:
- Murder Punishment? Do not shade 302. Shade 103.
- Theft Punishment? Do not shade 379. Shade 303.
- FIR Registration? Do not shade 154. Shade 173.
- Dying Declaration? Do not shade 32(1). Shade 26(a).
- Police Confession Inadmissible? Do not shade 25. Shade 23(1).
- Discovery of Fact? Do not shade 27. Shade 23(2).
- Right to Silence? Do not shade 161(2). Shade 180(2).
Good luck with your final revision! With these new mappings locked in, you are ready to dominate the OMR sheet.
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