IPC 177→BNS 212

IPC 177 to BNS 212: Furnishing false information

Section 177 IPC (1860) replaced by Section 212 BNS (2023)

View IPC Section 177 →View BNS Section 212 →

IPC 177 to BNS 212 at a Glance

Section 177 IPC (Furnishing false information) is now Section 212 BNS, in force from 1 July 2024. Under the BNS it is bailable and non-cognizable. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From IPC 177 to BNS 212?

Section 177 IPC is now Section 212 BNS, with the same title. In the first limb the maximum fine rises from one thousand rupees to five thousand rupees. The imprisonment of six months and two years is the same, and the second limb still sets no maximum for the fine. The two limbs are set out as clauses a and b, and the words or if become where. Illustration b says legally bound in place of the reference to a Regulation of 1821 of the Bengal Code, and it says the offence defined in this section in place of the latter part of this section. The Explanation refers to Section 211 BNS in place of Section 176 IPC, and its list of sections is restated by BNS section numbers and sub-sections.

IPC 177 vs BNS 212: Comparison Table

AspectIPC 1860 (repealed)BNS 2023 (in force)
Section177212
OffenceFurnishing false informationSame
PunishmentSimple imprisonment for up to six months. Where the information respects the commission of an offence, or is required to prevent an offence or to apprehend an offender, imprisonment of either description for up to two years.Same
FineFine up to one thousand rupees on the first limb. On the second limb the section provides for fine without fixing a maximum amount. The court may impose fine instead of imprisonment or in addition to it.Fine up to five thousand rupees under clause (a). Under clause (b) the section provides for fine without fixing a maximum amount. The court may impose fine instead of imprisonment or in addition to it.
BailBailableSame
CognizanceNon-CognizableSame
CompoundableNon-CompoundableSame
Triable ByAny MagistrateSame

IPC 177 and BNS 212: Bare Act Text Side by Side

IPC 1860 (repealed)

Section 177, IPC 1860

177. Furnishing false information.—Whoever, being legally bound to furnish information on any subject to any public servant, as such, furnishes, as true, information on the subject which he knows or has reason to believe to be false shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both; or, if the information which he is legally bound to give respects the commission of an offence, or is required for the purpose of preventing the commission of an offence, or in order to the apprehension of an offender, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. Illustrations (a) A, a landholder, knowing of the commission of a murder within the limits of his estate, wilfully misinforms the Magistrate of the district that the death has occurred by accident in consequence of the bite of a snake. A is guilty of the offence defined in this section. (b) A, a village watchman, knowing that a considerable body of strangers has passed through his village in order to commit a dacoity in the house of Z, a wealthy merchant residing in a neighbouring place, and being bound under clause 5, section VII, Regulation III, 1821, of the Bengal Code, to give early and punctual information of the above fact to the officer of the nearest police-station, wilfully misinforms the police officer that a body of suspicious characters passed through the village with a view to commit dacoity in a certain distant place in a different direction. Here A is guilty of the offence defined in the latter part of this section. Explanation.—In section 176 and in this section the word “offence” includes any act committed at any place out of India, which, if committed in India, would be punishable under any of the following sections, namely, 302, 304, 382, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 402, 435, 436, 449, 450, 457, 458, 459 and 460; and the word “offender” includes any person who is alleged to have been guilty of any such act.
BNS 2023 (in force)

Section 212, BNS 2023

Whoever, being legally bound to furnish information on any subject to any public servant, as such, furnishes, as true, information on the subject which he knows or has reason to believe to be false,— (a) shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both; (b) where the information which he is legally bound to give respects the commission of an offence, or is required for the purpose of preventing the commission of an offence, or in order to the apprehension of an offender, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. Illustrations. (a) A, a landholder, knowing of the commission of a murder within the limits of his estate, wilfully misinforms the Magistrate of the district that the death has occurred by accident in consequence of the bite of a snake. A is guilty of the offence defined in this section. (b) A, a village watchman, knowing that a considerable body of strangers has passed through his village in order to commit a dacoity in the house of Z, a wealthy merchant residing in a neighbouring place, and being legally bound to give early and punctual information of the above fact to the officer of the nearest police station, wilfully misinforms the police officer that a body of suspicious characters passed through the village with a view to commit dacoity in a certain distant place in a different direction. Here A is guilty of the offence defined in this section. Explanation.—In section 211 and in this section the word “offence” include any act committed at any place out of India, which, if committed in India, would be punishable under any of the following sections, namely, 103, 105, 307, sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) of section 309, sub-sections (2), (3), (4) and (5) of section 310, 311, 312, clauses (f) and (g) of section 326, sub-sections (4), (6), (7) and (8) of section 331, clauses (a) and (b) of section 332 and the word “offender” includes any person who is alleged to have been guilty of any such act.

Ingredients: IPC 177 vs BNS 212

Under IPC 177
  1. The accused was legally bound to furnish information on a subject to a public servant, as such
  2. The accused furnished the information as true
  3. The information was false
  4. The accused knew or had reason to believe that it was false
  5. If the information respects the commission of an offence, or is required to prevent an offence or to apprehend an offender, the higher punishment applies
Under BNS 212
  1. A legal duty on the accused to furnish information on a subject to a public servant, as such
  2. Furnishing of information as true by the accused that the accused knows or has reason to believe to be false

What IPC 177 to BNS 212 Means for Pending Cases

For Section 177 IPC (now Section 212 BNS): the offence and the terms of imprisonment are unchanged, but the maximum fine in the first limb is five times higher, five thousand rupees. A charge for an act done after the BNS came into force cites Section 212 BNS and carries that higher maximum.

FAQs: IPC 177 to BNS 212

What changed when Section 177 IPC became Section 212 BNS?▼

The maximum fine in the first limb and some wording. Section 212 BNS raises it from one thousand rupees to five thousand rupees. The imprisonment of six months and two years is the same. The two limbs are set out as clauses a and b, illustration b says legally bound in place of the reference to the Bengal Code, and the Explanation refers to Section 211 BNS and lists BNS sections and sub-sections.

Where does Section 177 IPC sit in the BNS?▼

In Section 212 BNS, in Chapter XIII, Of Contempts of the Lawful Authority of Public Servants.

Does Section 177 IPC or Section 212 BNS apply to an act done before 1 July 2024?▼

Section 177 IPC. Section 358 BNS repealed the IPC from 1 July 2024 but saves any liability already incurred under it, so an act done before that date is still dealt with under Section 177 IPC. Section 212 BNS governs acts done on or after 1 July 2024.

Disclaimer: This comparison is for informational purposes only. The new criminal laws came into effect on 1 July 2024. Consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·