IPC 211 to BNS 248: False charge of offence made with intent to injure

Section 211 IPC (1860) replaced by Section 248 BNS (2023)

View IPC Section 211 →View BNS Section 248 →

IPC 211 to BNS 248 at a Glance

Section 211 IPC (False charge of offence made with intent to injure) is now Section 248 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 211 to BNS 248?

Section 211 IPC is now Section 248 BNS. In the basic tier, the longest imprisonment rises from two years to five years, and the fine is capped at two lakh rupees where the IPC fixes no amount. In the aggravated tier, the threshold rises from offences punishable with seven years to ten years, and the longest imprisonment rises from seven years to ten years.

IPC 211 vs BNS 248: Comparison Table

Aspect	IPC 1860 (repealed)	BNS 2023 (in force)
Section	211	248
Offence	False charge of offence made with intent to injure	Same
Punishment	Imprisonment of either description for up to two years, or up to seven years if the false charge is of an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for seven years or upwards.	Imprisonment of either description for up to five years in the basic tier, or up to ten years if the criminal proceeding is instituted on a false charge of an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for ten years or upwards.
Fine	The offender may be punished with fine alone or with both imprisonment and fine in the basic tier, and is also liable to fine in the aggravated tier. The section fixes no amount.	Fine up to two lakh rupees alone or with imprisonment in the basic tier. In the aggravated tier, the offender is also liable to fine in addition to imprisonment.
Bail	Bailable	Same
Cognizance	Non-Cognizable	Same
Compoundable	Non-Compoundable	Same
Triable By	Magistrate of the first class; Court of Session if offence charged is capital or punishable with imprisonment for life	Same

IPC 211 and BNS 248: Bare Act Text Side by Side

IPC 1860 (repealed)

Section 211, IPC 1860

211. False charge of offence made with intent to injure.—Whoever, with intent to cause injury to any person, institutes or causes to be instituted any criminal proceeding against that person, or falsely charges any person with having committed an offence, knowing that there is no just or lawful ground for such proceeding or charge against that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both; and if such criminal proceeding be instituted on a false charge of an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for seven years or upwards, shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

BNS 2023 (in force)

Section 248, BNS 2023

Whoever, with intent to cause injury to any person, institutes or causes to be instituted any criminal proceeding against that person, or falsely charges any person with having committed an offence, knowing that there is no just or lawful ground for such proceeding or charge against that person,— (a) shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine which may extend to two lakh rupees, or with both; (b) if such criminal proceeding be instituted on a false charge of an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for ten years or upwards, shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Ingredients: IPC 211 vs BNS 248

Under IPC 211

The accused instituted or caused to be instituted a criminal proceeding against a person, or falsely charged a person with having committed an offence
The act was done with intent to cause injury to that person
The accused knew that there was no just or lawful ground for such proceeding or charge
For the aggravated punishment, the criminal proceeding was instituted on a false charge of an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for seven years or upwards

Under BNS 248

Instituting or causing to be instituted a criminal proceeding, or falsely charging a person with an offence
Intent to cause injury to that person
Knowledge that there is no just or lawful ground for the proceeding or charge
For aggravated liability, the false charge being of an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for ten years or upwards

What IPC 211 to BNS 248 Means for Pending Cases

For Section 211 IPC (now Section 248 BNS): an act done after the BNS came into force is charged under Section 248 BNS, where the basic term extends to five years and the aggravated term extends to ten years. An act done before that date stays under Section 211 IPC with its limits of two and seven years.

FAQs: IPC 211 to BNS 248

What changed when Section 211 IPC became Section 248 BNS?▼

The section is structured into clause a and clause b. The basic term rises from two years to five years and the fine is capped at two lakh rupees. The aggravated term rises from seven years to ten years, triggered by offences punishable with death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for ten years or upwards rather than seven years.

Where does Section 211 IPC sit in the BNS?▼

In Section 248 BNS, in Chapter XIV, Of False Evidence and Offences Against Public Justice.

Does Section 211 IPC or Section 248 BNS apply to an act done before 1 July 2024?▼

Section 211 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 211 IPC. Section 248 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 ·