List of Enactment & Enforcement Dates of Important Acts in India

STATUTE NAME

DATE OF ENACTMENT

DATE OF ENFORCEMENT

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Constitutional law in India is rooted in colonial legal frameworks, particularly the Government of India Act of 1935, which laid the foundation for federal governance. After independence, the Constitution of India, 1950 came into force, marking the birth of a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. It establishes fundamental rights, directive principles, and the structure of government.

Government of India Act, 1935

2 August 1935

1 August 1937

Constitution Of India, 1949

26 November 1949

26 January 1950

The Representation of the People Act, 1951

17 July 1951

12 August 1951

Also read- 50 Landmark Judgments of the Constitution

LAW OF TORTS

The Law of Torts is based on English common law principles, which were introduced to India during British rule. However, India does not have a codified law of torts like other legal domains. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and the Motor Vehicles Act, 2019, provide statutory remedies for specific tortious wrongs.

Consumer Protection Act, 2019

9 August 2019

20 July 2020 

Motor Vehicles Act, 2019

9 August 2019

1 September 2019

Competition Act, 2002

13 January 2003

31 March 2003

OLD CRIMINAL LAWS

DYK- Manusmriti and Arthashastra contained rules on crimes and punishments. The Islamic criminal law influenced the Mughal justice system.

Indian criminal law was initially shaped by British rule, with the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, drafted by Lord Macaulay. The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, further streamlined criminal justice. In 2023, the government introduced new criminal laws—the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023—to replace colonial-era statutes.

Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860

6 October 1860

1 January 1862

Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973

25 January 1974

1 April 1974

Indian Evidence Act (IEA), 1872

15 March 1872

1 September 1872

NEW CRIMINAL LAWS

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Replaces IPC, 1860)

25 December 2023

1 July 2024

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Replaces CrPC, 1973)

25 December 2023

1 July 2024

Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (Replaces IEA, 1872)

25 December 2023

1 July 2024

OTHER CRIMINAL LAWS

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015

31 December 2015

15 January 2016

Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012

19 June 2012

14 November 2012

Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988

9 September 1988

9 September 1988

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985

16 September 1985

14 November 1985

COMMERCIAL LAWS

Indian commercial law evolved from British mercantile regulations. The Indian Contract Act, 1872, set legal standards for agreements and obligations. British mercantile laws inspired the Companies Act, 1956, which was later replaced by the Companies Act, 2013.

The Companies Act, 2013, and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, reflect India's modern corporate and financial framework.

Indian Contract Act, 1872

25 April 1872

1 September 1872

Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881

9 December 1881

1 March 1882

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016

28 May 2016

1 December 2016

Sales of Goods Act, 1930

15 March 1930

1 July 1930

Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999

29 December 1999

1 June 2000

Indian Partnership Act, 1932

8 April 1932

1 October 1932

Limited Liability Act, 2008

7 January 2009

31 March 2009

Company Law, 2013

29 August 2013

1 April 2014

Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996

16 August 1996

22 August 1996

HINDU LAW

Hindu law is derived from Dharmaśāstra, including Manusmriti, Yajnavalkya Smriti, and Narada Smriti. The British system codified some aspects under Anglo-Hindu law. After independence, major codifications took place through the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and other personal laws in 1956, regulating marriage, succession, and guardianship.

India was one of the first countries to codify Hindu personal laws, unlike many other religious laws, which remain based on customs.

The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955

18 May 1955

18 May 1955

The Hindu Succession Act, 1956

17 June 1956

17 June 1956

The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956

25 August 1956

25 August 1956

The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956

21 December 1956

21 December 1956

MUSLIM LAW

Islamic law in India follows Shariah principles, primarily based on the Quran and Hadith. The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937 governs marriage, divorce, and inheritance. Later, laws such as the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, and The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 were enacted to address specific issues.

The Muslim Personal Law, 1937 (Shariat) Application Act

7 October 1937

7 October 1937

The Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939

17 March 1939

17 March 1939

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986

19 May 1986

19 May 1986

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019

31 July 2019

31 July 2019

The Wakf Act, 1995

22 November, 1995

1 January 1996

FAMILY LAW (Other than Hindu & Muslim Laws)

India has secular marriage laws like the Special Marriage Act of 1954, allowing interfaith and civil marriages. 

Special Marriage Act, 1954

9 October 1954

1 January 1955

The Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872

18 July 1872

1 August 1872

LABOUR LAWS

Labour laws in India evolved from colonial protections for industrial workers. The Factories Act of 1948 and Minimum Wages Act of 1948 were enacted post-independence to protect workers' rights.

Factories Act, 1948

23 September 1948

1 April 1949

The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947

11 March 1947

1 April 1947

Minimum Wages Act, 1948

15 March 1948

1 April 1949

ENVIRONMENT LAWS

DYK- The Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984) led to the creation of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, one of India's most stringent environmental laws.

Indian Forest Act, 1927

21 September 1927

21 September 1927

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

9 September 1972

9 September 1972

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

23 March 1974

23 March 1974

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 (Repealed)

7 December 1977

1 April 1978

Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

29 March 1981

16 May 1981

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

23 May 1986

19 November 1986

National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

2 June 2010

18 October 2010

HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS

The SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, recognizes more than 20 specific crimes as atrocities against Dalits and Adivasis.

Caste Disabilities Removal Act, 1850

11 April 1850

11 April, 1850

Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955

8 May 1955

1 June 1955

The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976

9 February 1976

25 October 1976

The SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

11 September 1989

30 January 1990

National Commission For Women Act, 1990

30 August 1990

31 January 1992

National Commission For Minorities, 1992

17 May 1992

17 May 1992

National Commission For Backward Classes, 1993

2 April 1993

2 August 1993

Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993

8 January 1994

28 September 1993

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2006

20 January 2006

5 February 2007

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR) LAWS

India's IPR regime evolved from British patent and copyright laws. The Patent Act, 1970, and the Copyright Act, 1957, were later updated to align with global standards under WTO and TRIPS agreements.

Copyright Act, 1957

4 June 1957

21 January 1958

Patent Act, 1970

19 September 1970

20 April 1972

Trademark Act, 1999

30 December 1999

15 September 2003

Geographical Indication Act, 1999

30 December 1999

15 September 2003

Design Act, 2000

25 May 2000

11 May 2001

Biological Diversity Act, 2002

5 February 2003

1 October 2003

CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS

Consumer rights were recognized in India with the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, later replaced by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The Right to Information Act, 2005, also empowered citizens to demand transparency in governance.

Right to Information Act, 2005

15 June 2005

12 October 2005

Lokpal & Lokayukta Act, 2013

1 January 2014

16 January 2014

OTHERS

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

21 March 1908

1 January 1909

Information Technology Act, 2000

9 June 2000

17 October 2000

The Transfer of Property Act, 1882

17 February 1882

1 July 1882

The Registration Act, 1908

18 December 1908

1 January 1909

The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987

11 October 1987

9 November 1995

The Limitation Act, 1963

5 October 1963

1 January 1964

The Advocates Act, 1961

19 May 1961

16 August 1961