By contrast, in the case of a non-cognisable offence, a police officer does not have the authority to make an arrest without a warrant and an investigation cannot be initiated without a court order.
The police can file a first information report (FIR) only for cognisable offences.
In cognizable cases police can make an investigation without prior permission of a magistrate.
[5] In general non-cognizable offences are bailable and placed under First Schedule of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
On 12 November 2013, the Supreme Court of India said it was mandatory for the police to register a First Information Report for all complaints in which a cognizable offence has been discovered.