Bare Acts
Read the full text of important Indian laws on this page. Open any Act to read it section by section, jump to a chapter, or search within it.
Every Act listed here can be read in full on this page. The text of Central Acts is taken from India Code, the official collection maintained by the Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice, and shows the date it is current to. Footnotes record amendments. For any other Act, see India Code.
From 1 July 2024, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam replaced the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act.
15 Acts
Constitution and citizens' rights
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The Constitution of India
The supreme law: fundamental rights and duties, the structure of government, and the courts.
Criminal law
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Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
The law of evidence, including electronic evidence. Replaced the Indian Evidence Act.
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Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
Cheques, promissory notes and bills of exchange, including cheque dishonour cases under Section 138.
Civil law and procedure
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Indian Contract Act, 1872
Formation, performance and breach of contracts, guarantees and agency.
Consumer protection
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Consumer Protection Act, 2019
Consumer rights, the Consumer Commissions, product liability and mediation of consumer disputes.
Family and succession
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Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
Marriage, divorce (including by mutual consent), maintenance and custody for Hindus.
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Divorce Act, 1869
Divorce, nullity of marriage and judicial separation for Christians.
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Family Courts Act, 1984
Family Courts, their procedure and their duty to attempt settlement.
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Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
Protection, residence and monetary relief for women facing domestic violence.
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Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
Makes giving, taking or demanding dowry an offence.
Arbitration, mediation and business
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Commercial Courts Act, 2015
Commercial courts, and mandatory pre-institution mediation under Section 12A.
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Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006
Protection for MSEs against delayed payment, and the Facilitation Council.
Tamil Nadu rules
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The Criminal Rules of Practice, 2019
Rules issued by the Madras High Court for criminal courts in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, in force from 1 January 2020.
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Tamil Nadu Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council Rules, 2017
How the Facilitation Councils in Tamil Nadu handle references on delayed payment to micro and small enterprises.
Other important laws
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Advocates Act, 1961
Enrolment and regulation of advocates, and the Bar Councils.
The text of an Act is a starting point. How a provision applies depends on the facts and on court decisions interpreting it. For advice on your matter, contact the office.