Section 17 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 defines admission as a voluntary statement by the accused regarding the existence or truth related to facts in issue. The statements may be either oral, written, or contained in electronic form and have to prove an inference relating to a fact in issue or relevant fact.

In the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, Sections 24 to 30 deal with confession, though it has not been specifically defined in the Act. A confession can be described as a statement from the accused person acknowledging his or her guilt with respect to the crime that has been alleged.

• Admission can be made to a police officer, though a confession cannot be made to a police officer.
• Section 17 to 23 and 31 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 covers admission, whereas section 24 to 30 deals with confession.
• Admission need not be voluntary to be relevant, whereas confession must be voluntary to be relevant.
• All admissions are not confessions; all confessions are admissions.
• Admission can be made by any person; confession is made by the person who voluntarily admits to have committed the crime.
• Admission can be used on behalf of the person making it; confession always goes against the person making it.
• Magistrate generally don't record admission, whereas confession is normally made before a Magistrate.
• An admission is generally an acknowledgment of certain facts or allegations, either without guilt or innocence. A confession, in contrast, involves taking responsibility for a crime.
• The process of admission can take place in many legal cases; some are civil, while others may be criminal and administrative proceedings. The occurrence of a confession only happens in criminal proceedings when an accused accepts the crime he or she is being charged with.
• Admissions can be made in different contexts, for example, legal, personal, or occupational ones. Confession is usually made when a person is in court.
• Admission may or may not be admitted as evidence in court proceedings. confessions frequently serve as evidence used for criminal trials.
• Generally, admission is not taken into account as a mitigating factor during sentencing. However, the confession may be used to decrease the punishment of the self-accusing person.
• Both admission and confession serve as methods of acknowledging wrongdoing or error. Admission often involves disclosing information or acknowledging guilt in a broad sense, while confession specifically involves owning up to committing a crime or wrongful behaviour.
• Admission may not necessarily imply culpability, but confession is commonly associated with taking responsibility for a particular offence.
• Among the two, admissions could happen in any location whereas confessions are usually presented in court.
• The impact of confessions is often heightened by a deeper feeling of responsibility and remorse for the acts revealed. This makes them stronger than mere admissions.
• Although admissions may encompass both spoken and unspoken actions, written or recorded confessions are typically employed to officially establish the recognition of culpability in legal situations. Written or recorded statements are frequently deemed more robust proof than verbal admissions as they are documented, making them more dependable in legal proceedings.
• The admission can be made by anyone who knows the circumstances, while the confession is usually made by the person who committed the crime.
• Admission is a term used broadly, while the word confession has a specific application in legal proceedings.
• Although admissions and confessions have the potential to result in either criminal charges or exoneration, confessions specifically pertain to declarations in which a person confesses to their culpability or implicates themselves in a criminal act or misconduct. On the contrary, admissions may entail acknowledging facts or involvement without necessarily admitting to wrongdoing. Confessions are more directly linked to self-incrimination.
• Admissions can cover a wide range of information or accusations, not just limited to actions, and may involve acknowledging multiple facets of a situation. However, a confession specifically involves admitting to being involved in unlawful behaviour or misconduct. Confessions tend to centre on taking accountability for unlawful actions, while admissions can encompass a broader range of acknowledgments that may go beyond criminal conduct.
• The use of admissions can have multiple objectives, including clarifying information, restricting the scope of a case, or facilitating a resolution. In contrast, confessions primarily aim to prove an individual's recognition of their transgression, acceptance of accountability, and potential feelings of remorse or regret. While confessions centre on acknowledging culpability or participation in a crime, admissions have a wider range of uses beyond simply admitting to wrongdoing.
• Admission may have an effect on the subsequent direction of litigation, limiting the issues at hand, helping discovery to be simpler, or even leading to a settlement. Typically, confessions in most criminal proceedings bear great weight as they directly implicate people for having committed a crime and can determine the sentence or punishment.
• Although acknowledging something can carry legal consequences, it does not automatically equate to the commission of a crime. However, a statement of guilt can potentially result in criminal responsibility and the possibility of being found guilty and receiving a punishment based on the details revealed in the admission. Confessions hold a prominent position in the legal system and have a greater impact on criminal liability than mere acknowledgments.
• The admission can be either voluntary or under coercion. For a confession to be admissible in court, it must not have been acquired through torture, threats, or inducements.