Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018

This 2023 edition of The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 (Act 22 of 2018, dt. 11-8-2018, w.e.f. 21-4-2018) reproduces—verbatim—India’s most recent omnibus amendment package to the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act in response to the Kathua and Unnao cases. For one-stop reference, the volume also reprints the entire texts of the earlier criminal-law amendments that remain operative:

• Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013

• Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2010

• Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2008

• Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Amending Act, 2006

• Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2005

Concise short comments follow each amending clause—flagging new offence-definitions, minimum-sentence hikes, fast-track investigation deadlines and victim-oriented procedural safeguards—while preserving full Bare-Act integrity for examinations and authoritative citation.

Core statutory impact of the 2018 package

• Indian Penal Code, 1860 – inserts Sec. 376-AB, 376-DA & 376-DB prescribing death or life for rape of girls under 12/16, raises minimum sentences for other sexual-offences, and widens fine formulas for victim compensation.

• Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 – mandates FIR-to-charge-sheet in 2 months, trial completion in 2 months, no anticipatory bail for child-rape, and in-camera deposition via video link.

• Indian Evidence Act, 1872 – bars victim character evidence and cross-examination on prior sexual history for the new aggravated-rape provisions.

• Juvenile Justice interface – clarifies trial jurisdiction when child offenders are above 16 in heinous cases.

This edition is particularly suited for

• AIBE candidates and law students studying the evolving framework of sexual-offence jurisprudence.

• Prosecutors, defence counsel & police investigators updating SOPs, charge-sheet templates and bail arguments.

• Judicial officers & fast-track-court staff applying strict statutory time-lines and enhanced sentencing bands.

• NGOs, social-workers & policy researchers analysing the deterrence effect and victim-support implementation.

Exact Gazette text · pinpoint explanatory notes · zero superfluous commentary—your fastest route to clarity, authenticity and practical insight on India’s post-2012 criminal-law reform trajectory.