Acid attack was made a specific offence under section 326A of the IPC in the year 2013.
This was added vide Criminal Law(Amendment) Act, 2013 which came to effect December 2013.
The law now provides for imprisonment of 10 years which may extend to life and also fine for those guilty of hurting a woman by throwing acid.
Earlier this was not a separate offence rather dealt normally as causing grievous hurt to any person, but now punishment has been made more strict and also new law provides for compensation to be given to the victim.
These changes were incorporated in the criminal law of India after the incident Nirbhaya case of Delhi.