Section 1: Short title, application and commencement

In plain words

This Act, the law of evidence, applies to all judicial proceedings in or before any court, including courts-martial. It does not apply to affidavits given to a court or officer, or to proceedings before an arbitrator. It comes into force on the date the Central Government notifies.

A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.

Official text

(1) This Act may be called the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023.

(2) It applies to all judicial proceedings in or before any Court, including Courts-martial, but not to affidavits presented to any Court or officer, nor to proceedings before an arbitrator.

(3) It shall come into force on such date1 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 25 August 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

Supreme Court judgments citing the section 1

No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.