Official UPSC Format

Which of the following statements about a Zero First Information Report (Zero FIR) under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 is/are correct?
1. A Zero FIR can be lodged at a police station, even though the place of commission of a cognizable/non-cognizable offence is outside the territorial jurisdiction of that police station.
2. The Officer-in-Charge of the police station where a Zero FIR has been lodged may, with the permission of the competent authority, initiate a preliminary enquiry.
3. Under Zero FIR, it is obligatory for the informant to furnish information electronically.
Select the answer using the code given below:

1. A Zero FIR can be lodged at a police station, even though the place of commission of a cognizable/non-cognizable offence is outside the territorial jurisdiction of that police station.

2. The Officer-in-Charge of the police station where a Zero FIR has been lodged may, with the permission of the competent authority, initiate a preliminary enquiry.

3. Under Zero FIR, it is obligatory for the informant to furnish information electronically.

⚡ Quick Recall Snippet

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 modernizes criminal procedure. Under Section 173, Zero FIRs apply strictly to cognizable offences. While electronic filing is permitted, it is not obligatory. Preliminary enquiries for specific offences require permission from a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

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Detailed Solution & Authority Citations

Correct Answer is Option D
According to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, the procedural framework for registering complaints relies on precise statutory definitions.
  • Statement 1 is Incorrect: As codified in Section 173(1) of the BNSS, a Zero FIR—which mandates police to register a case regardless of territorial jurisdiction—is exclusively applicable to cognizable offences (serious crimes where police can arrest without a warrant). The statement is factually flawed because it includes non-cognizable offences.

  • Statement 2 is Correct: A newly introduced safeguard under Section 173(3) of the BNSS permits the Officer-in-Charge to conduct a preliminary enquiry (within a strict 14-day window) for specific cognizable offences punishable by 3 to less than 7 years. However, this is strictly conditional upon obtaining prior permission from an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.

  • Statement 3 is Incorrect: While the BNSS modernizes police procedure, electronic filing is a facilitation, not a mandate. Section 173(1) explicitly states information may be given orally or by electronic communication. If submitted electronically, the informant is legally obligated to sign the record within three days for it to be formally registered.
    • Conclusion: Only statement 2 reflects the accurate statutory procedure.

    🚨 The Examiner's Trap

    The examiner tests precise legal literacy by inserting small, fatal errors: sneaking 'non-cognizable' into the scope of Zero FIRs, and changing a technological 'option' (electronic filing) into a legal 'obligation'.

    Active Recall Flashcard

    Tap to Flip

    Under Section 173 of the BNSS, if an informant files an FIR electronically, within how many days must they physically sign it?

    Within three days.

    Concept Flow Mapping

    Zero FIR
    Applies To
    Cognizable Offences Only
    BNSS Section 173(3)
    Requires Permission From
    Deputy Superintendent of Police
    Electronic FIR
    Must Be Signed Within
    Three Days

    Logic Quest

    "Why does a Zero FIR strictly apply to cognizable offences?"

    Not analyzing core concepts like Modernization of Criminal Procedure through the lens of Previous Year Questions is a serious miss-out. This PYQ engine is specifically designed to help you decode the examiner's mindset and master highly probable Indian Polity questions for your upcoming Prelims.