Legal Knowledge (IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act and Other Laws)
Legal Knowledge tests the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Evidence Act and allied laws at police-officer level: offence definitions, arrest, search, FIR, bail, investigation, evidence and special statutes. Since 1 July 2024 the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam have replaced the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act; the syllabus may still use old labels, so learn the old section numbers and note the new Act names.
Core rules
- IPC: s.299 culpable homicide, s.300 murder, s.302 punishment for murder, s.304 culpable homicide not amounting to murder, s.307 attempt to murder, s.379 theft, s.392 robbery, s.395 dacoity, s.420 cheating, s.498A cruelty by husband or relatives.
- CrPC: s.154 FIR, s.156 investigation, s.41 arrest without warrant, s.173 charge-sheet, s.437 and s.439 bail, s.174 inquest.
- Evidence Act: s.25 confession to police not proved; s.27 discovery pursuant to information; s.32 dying declaration; s.45 expert opinion; s.101 burden of proof.
- Allied laws: Maharashtra Police Act 1951, POCSO Act 2012, NDPS Act 1985, Arms Act 1959, Motor Vehicles Act 1988, SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.
Worked example
An accused in custody tells a police officer where a knife is hidden; the knife is recovered. Reasoning: the confession itself is barred by s.25 Evidence Act; s.27 permits only that part of the information which distinctly relates to the discovery. The recovery may be proved, but not the full confessional statement.
Traps
- Confusing s.299 and s.300; murder requires intention or knowledge and the s.300 exceptions.
- Treating every FIR as a charge-sheet; s.173 follows investigation.
- Using s.25 to exclude discovery evidence without applying s.27.
- Ignoring the 2024 statutory transition.
Key points are listed in the key_points field.