Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 263
Framing of charge
(1) If, upon such consideration, examination, if any, and hearing, the Magistrate is of opinion that there is ground for presuming that the accused has committed an offence triable under this Chapter, which such Magistrate is competent to try and which, in his opinion, could be adequately punished by him, he shall frame in writing a charge against the accused within a period of sixty days from the date of first hearing on charge.
(2) The charge shall then be read and explained to the accused, and he shall be asked whether he pleads guilty of the offence charged or claims to be tried.
Why this exists
This is the Magistrate-court equivalent of formally launching a trial once the discharge stage has passed - it ensures the accused knows precisely what he's charged with and has to answer only for offences the Magistrate is actually empowered to try and punish adequately (more serious matters get sent up to Sessions instead). BNSS's 60-day deadline pushes for speedier trials. It mirrors section 240 of the earlier Code of Criminal Procedure.