During this period, the government pursued a wide-ranging reform agenda aimed at modernising laws, accelerating justice delivery, strengthening governance mechanisms and aligning legal institutions with the needs of contemporary India. From replacing colonial-era criminal statutes to digitising courts and repealing outdated legislation, the reforms have touched nearly every layer of the legal system.
The most extensive legal reform of the Modi administration has been the replacement of three foundational criminal laws inherited from British rule. The Indian Penal Code of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 were replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. The government described the transition as a shift from a colonial framework designed to govern subjects toward a citizen-focused justice system.
The new criminal laws place greater emphasis on technology-driven investigations, time-bound procedures, electronic evidence and provisions dealing with organised crime and terrorism. Although certain provisions have attracted criticism and debate, the reform represents the most significant restructuring of India’s criminal justice architecture since Independence.
Another landmark constitutional decision came in August 2019 when the government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370. The move brought the former state under the same constitutional framework applicable across the rest of India. The government argued that the decision would strengthen governance, encourage investment and promote integration. Supporters viewed the move as the completion of national integration, while critics questioned both the process and its implications for federalism. Regardless of differing viewpoints, the decision remains one of the most consequential constitutional developments in modern Indian history.
In 2019, Parliament enacted legislation criminalising instant triple talaq, a practice that allowed a Muslim man to divorce his wife by pronouncing “talaq” three times. The law was introduced as a measure to strengthen gender justice and provide legal protection to Muslim women. It followed a Supreme Court judgment that had already declared the practice unconstitutional. For many women affected by unilateral divorce, the legislation provided an additional layer of legal security.
The Modi years also witnessed a major technological transformation of India’s judiciary through the e-Courts Mission Mode Project. Virtual hearings, electronic filing systems, online access to court records and digital case management platforms expanded significantly, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of technology. In many regions, litigants can now access court services without travelling long distances, improving access to justice and reducing procedural barriers.
A major governance initiative involved the repeal of hundreds of obsolete laws, many dating back to the colonial era. The objective was to simplify the legal framework, reduce compliance burdens and improve the ease of doing business. The exercise formed part of a broader effort to reduce bureaucratic complexity and modernise governance structures.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, introduced in 2016, fundamentally transformed the process of resolving corporate insolvency in India. Prior to its introduction, the resolution of bad loans frequently extended over several years. The new framework established a time-bound insolvency process and strengthened the rights of creditors. Despite continuing challenges in implementation, the legislation is widely regarded as one of the most important economic and legal reforms of the past decade.
Addressing the massive backlog of pending cases, the government also focused on expanding judicial infrastructure and supporting fast-track courts, particularly for cases involving women and children. Special courts dealing with sexual offences, improved court facilities and greater use of technology were promoted to accelerate case disposal and enhance judicial efficiency.
The administration additionally pursued reforms aimed at rationalising India’s tribunal system. These measures sought to reduce institutional overlap, improve efficiency and streamline dispute resolution in specialised sectors such as taxation, company law and service-related matters. The reforms were intended to strengthen administrative justice and reduce delays in adjudication.
Several legislative initiatives introduced during the past decade also strengthened legal safeguards for women and children. Amendments concerning sexual offences, child protection and trafficking sought to enhance punishments and improve protections for vulnerable sections of society.
Taken together, these measures reflect a broader governance philosophy frequently described by the government as “Ease of Justice” — an approach aimed at enabling citizens to access legal remedies in a faster, more transparent and more efficient manner.
Through digital courts, modernised criminal laws, constitutional restructuring and governance simplification, the Modi government has undertaken one of the most ambitious legal reform agendas in independent India. While debate continues regarding the impact and implementation of several initiatives, the transformation of law, justice and governance has emerged as a defining pillar of the administration’s legacy during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 4,399 days in office.
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