Explainer · Criminal Procedure · BNSS 2023
Zero FIR and e-FIR Under BNSS 2023
A Zero FIR means you can report a cognizable offence at any police station, even one that does not have territorial jurisdiction over where the crime happened, and that station must register the FIR and then transfer it to the station that does. An e-FIR, or electronic FIR, means information about an offence can be given electronically rather than only in person. Both are now part of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, the code that replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 on 1 July 2024, and they are meant to remove the old excuse of "this is not our area" and to make first reporting faster. This explainer sets out what a Zero FIR and an e-FIR are under the BNSS, what changed from the CrPC, and the practical limits, with a caveat that the BNSS section numbers are new, so confirm the exact provision against the bare Act. Last verified October 2026.
- Zero FIR: you can file an FIR for a cognizable offence at any police station regardless of jurisdiction; it is then transferred to the station that has jurisdiction.
- e-FIR: the BNSS allows information about an offence to be given electronically, usually subject to signing within a set time.
- The code: both now sit within the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, which replaced the CrPC 1973 on 1 July 2024.
- Caveat: BNSS section numbers are new, so confirm the exact provision against the bare Act and your State's rules.
01What a Zero FIR is
A Zero FIR is a first information report registered at a police station that does not have territorial jurisdiction over the place where the offence happened. It is called "Zero" because it is given serial number zero at that station and is then transferred to the station that does have jurisdiction, which registers it with a regular number and takes the investigation forward.
The point is speed and access. A victim does not have to find the "right" station first, which matters most in serious and time-sensitive cases. Under the BNSS, the duty to register information about a cognizable offence regardless of where it occurred is express, and the concept of Zero FIR, which earlier grew out of case law and guidelines, now sits within the statutory scheme.
02What an e-FIR is
An e-FIR, or electronic FIR, is the registration of first information given through electronic means rather than only by appearing in person at the station. The BNSS allows information about an offence to be given electronically, which is designed to make reporting easier and to create a quick, dated record.
- Electronic first information: information can be supplied electronically, and is then taken on record by the police.
- Signing requirement: where information is given electronically, it is generally required to be signed within a set time for it to be treated as the formal record, so the electronic step is the start, not always the end, of the process.
- State systems vary: how e-FIR is implemented (portal, app, categories of offence covered) depends on each State's rollout, so the online facility available to you may differ by State.
The exact scope of electronic reporting, including which offences can be reported online and the time to sign, is set by the BNSS read with State rules. Confirm the current position for your State.
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03What changed from the CrPC
Under the old Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, FIR registration was governed mainly by Section 154, and Zero FIR and electronic reporting operated largely through Supreme Court directions, circulars and practice rather than clear statutory text. The BNSS brings these ideas into the code itself:
| Idea | Position under the CrPC 1973 | Position under the BNSS 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| FIR for a cognizable offence | Section 154 CrPC | Recast under the BNSS (new numbering) |
| Filing regardless of jurisdiction | Mainly from case law and guidelines | Expressly supported in the BNSS scheme |
| Electronic reporting | Not a clear statutory route | Information can be given electronically |
| Preliminary inquiry in some cases | Judge-made (Lalita Kumari) | Provision for a preliminary inquiry in certain cases |
For the wider shift across all three new codes, see the new criminal laws BNS, BNSS and BSA. Because the BNSS renumbers provisions, always map the new section to the old one before relying on it.
04Limits and timelines
Zero FIR and e-FIR widen access to reporting, but they do not change some basics:
- Jurisdiction still matters for investigation. A Zero FIR is transferred to the station with jurisdiction, which carries the case forward, so the "zero" stage is the start, not the home, of the matter.
- Cognizable vs non-cognizable. The duty to register applies to cognizable offences; non-cognizable matters follow a different route.
- Electronic reporting may need in-person signing. An e-FIR generally has to be signed within the time the BNSS allows to become the formal record.
- Preliminary inquiry in some cases. For certain offences in a defined range, the BNSS allows a short preliminary inquiry before a full FIR.
05What to do in practice
If you need to report an offence:
- Report at once, at any station. If it is a cognizable offence, you can insist on a Zero FIR at the nearest station even if the crime happened elsewhere.
- Use the online facility where your State offers it, and complete any signing step within the time allowed.
- Keep the FIR copy and number. You are entitled to a free copy of the FIR, and the number is how you later track the case.
- Track the matter. Once an FIR is registered and the case reaches a court, you can follow its status on eCourts.
For how this fits criminal case search under the new codes, see criminal record and case search under BNS and BNSS.
06Where Claw fits
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
Once an FIR becomes a case, the practical need is to find and follow it. Claw helps there. Its criminal-case and party-name search runs across 9,102 courts, benches and forums and spans both the new BNS and BNSS era and the older IPC and CrPC era, returning matters by party name or case number in under 5 seconds, with a match confidence on every finding because namesake risk is acute in criminal matters. Its monitoring can watch a party and report new filings and movement. The judgment archive covers 30 crore+ judgments, with Supreme Court decisions from 1950 and High Court decisions from 1990, and Claw does not use your searches or documents to train its AI models. A search result is a court-record input to verify, not a police verification and not a verdict; a registered FIR is an allegation, not a conviction. You can create a FREE Claw account to run a criminal case search.
To find and follow a matter across the courts, run a case search across Indian courts by party name or case number.
07Sources and further reading
- India Code (the BNSS 2023 text): indiacode.nic.in
- Ministry of Home Affairs (the new criminal laws): mha.gov.in
- eCourts (criminal case status): ecourts.gov.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
This page is general information for an Indian audience, not legal advice. BNSS section numbers are new; confirm the exact provision against the bare Act and your State's rules before relying on it.
08Frequently asked questions
What is a Zero FIR under BNSS 2023?
A Zero FIR is a first information report you can file at any police station for a cognizable offence, even if that station does not have territorial jurisdiction over where the crime happened. It is given serial number zero and then transferred to the station with jurisdiction, which registers it with a regular number and investigates. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 supports filing regardless of jurisdiction within the statutory scheme.
What is an e-FIR and can I file it online?
An e-FIR is first information about an offence given through electronic means rather than only in person. The BNSS allows information to be given electronically, and many States offer an online facility, though it usually has to be signed within a set time to become the formal record. Which offences can be reported online and how depends on your State's rollout.
What changed from the CrPC on FIR registration?
Under the CrPC 1973, FIR registration was governed mainly by Section 154, and Zero FIR and electronic reporting operated largely through case law and guidelines. The BNSS brings these into the code itself, expressly supporting filing regardless of jurisdiction and allowing electronic reporting, and it provides for a preliminary inquiry in certain cases. The section numbers are new, so map the new provision to the old one.
Does a Zero FIR stay at the station where I filed it?
No. A Zero FIR is registered at the nearest or most convenient station and then transferred to the police station that has territorial jurisdiction, which carries the investigation forward. The Zero FIR is the fast first step, not the final home of the case.
Is an FIR a finding of guilt?
No. An FIR, including a Zero FIR or an e-FIR, records information about an alleged cognizable offence and starts the process. It is an allegation, not a conviction, and the presumption of innocence applies until a court decides the matter.