First Information Report (FIR)
Also called: FIR, zero FIR, e-FIR
The written record a police station makes of information about a cognizable offence. It starts the investigation. Since 1 July 2024 it is registered under Section 173 of the BNSS.
A First Information Report is the information about a cognizable offence, given to the police, written down, read over to the informant and signed. Once registered, the police must investigate.
The law behind it
Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), which replaced Section 154 of the old CrPC from 1 July 2024, governs FIRs. It allows information to be given orally, in writing or by electronic communication, and to any police station whatever the place of the offence. The station that receives it outside its area registers it and transfers it (this is commonly called a zero FIR). The informant gets a copy free of cost (Section 173(2)).
If the police do not register it
- Send the information in writing to the Superintendent of Police (Section 173(4)).
- If that fails, apply to the Magistrate under Section 175(3) of the BNSS for an order to investigate.
- For offences punishable with three to seven years, the police may hold a preliminary enquiry within 14 days, with the permission of a senior officer (Section 173(3)).
Non-cognizable offences
For a non-cognizable offence, the police record the information in a register and refer the informant to the Magistrate (Section 174 of the BNSS); they cannot investigate without the Magistrate's order.
Be accurate
Give facts you know, with dates, places and names. A false complaint is itself an offence.
Draft a police complaint letter, a zero FIR request or a complaint against police inaction, and read what to do when police refuse an FIR.
Checked against the sources below on 7 November 2026 IST. General information about Indian law, not legal advice for your case.
Documents that use this term
Guides that explain more
- Police Refused to Register Your FIR? Here Is the Actual Legal Process Now
The process for a refused FIR changed on 1 July 2024. The old route straight to a Magistrate is gone; there's now a mandatory first step that a surprising number of people still don't know about.
- Lost Your Documents? Police Report and Duplicate Copy Process
A lost document usually needs a police lost report, not an FIR, followed by an application to the authority that issued it. Here is what each common duplicate asks for and how the affidavit and indemnity fit in.