Haryana, Punjab, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh have secured positions among the top five states in the nationwide Nyaya Sanhita rankings, two years after the three new criminal laws took effect on July 1, 2024. According to sources, these states have performed well on the four key parameters of administrative reforms, operational efficiency, ICT application, and integration, which are required under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) rankings.
Key Parameters and National Average
The four parameters under the BNS rankings carry specific weightage: administrative reforms (20%), operational efficiency (45%), ICT application (25%), and integration (10%). As of June 2026, the national average stands at 70%. Sources indicate that the leading states—Haryana, Goa, Assam, UT Chandigarh, and Punjab—are currently above this range.
Certain states, particularly in the northeastern parts of the country, are lagging due to network issues, which have hampered their rankings. However, sources confirmed that 23 out of the 36 states and union territories are above the national average of 70%. All states are competing to meet the four parameters and improve their rankings.
Digital Integration Target by 2027
Sources informed The Tribune that by January 1, 2027, most states are expected to achieve digital integration within police, prison, forensic, prosecution, and court systems. These are the five foundational pillars of India's criminal justice system, operating under the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System, which is integrated with the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).
Background of the New Criminal Laws
The three new criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—came into effect on July 1, 2024, replacing the colonial-era laws: the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
