Evolving Gender Norms in Law: The Role of BNS Vs IPC in Addressing Women's Issues

This article investigates the transformative potential of three key legal enactments in Indian Law, namely the Bhartiya Nayaya Sanhita(BNS), which was implemented in India in 2023. These changes, which are indented to modernize the antiquated legal system that was left over from British era, are essential to tackling the urge problem of women's safety in the face of an increase in gender-based violence. The IPC nevertheless reflects some historical and cultural prejudices that might restrict the extent of protection and justice for women, notwithstanding major improvements to address gender-based violence and sexual assaults. The BNS on the other hand, offer different legal viewpoints and provide distinct definitions, sanctions and strategies to address crimes against women. By contrasting the BNS's Provisions on gender-related offenses including adultery, assault, cruelty, domestic abuse, rape, sex trafficking, and so on with the earlier Indian Penal Code(IPC, 1860), this study examines all of the modifications that have been made to the law. It also evaluates how well these laws work to protect women's rights and advance gender equality by looking at how well they are applied in real-world situations, how strong the legal safeguards are, and how these laws affect cultural perceptions. Looking at the differences in these legal structures, the paper seeks to emphasize the complexities surrounding the introduction of new gender equity laws and assess the potential impact of such upheavals on social attitudes towards women. The objective of the findings is to incorporate it into a broader discussion on the transformation of legal system with respect to promoting women's rights and building a fair society.