Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Browse all 358 sections of the BNS. Use the converter tool to find the old equivalent →
Chapter I: Preliminary
Chapter II: Of Punishments
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 4 | Punishments |
| 5 | Definition of “appropriate Government” |
| 6 | Fractions of terms of punishment |
| 7 | Sentence may be (in certain cases of imprisonment) wholly or partly rigorous or simple |
| 8 | Amount of fine |
| 9 | Limit of punishment of offence made up of several offences |
| 10 | Punishment of person guilty of one of several offences, the judgment stating that it is doubtful of which |
| 11 | Solitary confinement |
| 12 | Limit of solitary confinement |
| 13 | Enhanced punishment for certain offences under Chapter XII or Chapter XVII after previous conviction |
Chapter III: General Exceptions
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 14 | Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by law |
| 15 | Act of Judge when acting judicially |
| 16 | Act done pursuant to the judgment or order of Court |
| 17 | Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law |
| 18 | Accident in doing a lawful act |
| 19 | Act likely to cause harm, but done without criminal intent, and to prevent other harm |
| 20 | Act of a child under seven years of age |
| 21 | Act of a child above seven and under twelve of immature understanding |
| 22 | Act of a person of unsound mind |
| 23 | Act of a person incapable of judgment by reason of intoxication caused against his will |
| 24 | Offence requiring a particular intent or knowledge committed by one who is intoxicated |
| 25 | Act not intended and not known to be likely to cause death or grievous hurt, done by consent |
| 26 | Act not intended to cause death, done by consent in good faith for person's benefit |
| 27 | Act done in good faith for benefit of child or insane person, by or by consent of guardian |
| 28 | Consent known to be given under fear or misconception |
| 29 | Exclusion of acts which are offences independently of harm caused |
| 30 | Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent |
| 31 | Communication made in good faith |
| 32 | Act to which a person is compelled by threats |
| 33 | Act causing slight harm |
| 34 | Things done in private defence |
| 35 | Right of private defence of the body and of property |
| 36 | Right of private defence against the act of a person of unsound mind, etc. |
| 37 | Acts against which there is no right of private defence |
| 38 | When the right of private defence of the body extends to causing death |
| 39 | When such right extends to causing any harm other than death |
| 40 | Commencement and continuance of the right of private defence of the body |
| 41 | When the right of private defence of property extends to causing death |
| 42 | When such right extends to causing any harm other than death |
| 43 | Commencement and continuance of the right of private defence of property |
| 44 | Right of private defence against deadly assault when there is risk of harm to innocent person |
Chapter IV: Of Abetment, Criminal Conspiracy and Attempt
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 45 | Abetment of a thing |
| 46 | Abettor |
| 47 | Abetment in India of offences outside India |
| 48 | Abetment outside India for offence in India |
| 49 | Punishment of abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment |
| 50 | Punishment of abetment if person abetted does act with different intention from that of abettor |
| 51 | Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done |
| 52 | Abettor when liable to cumulative punishment for act abetted and for act done |
| 53 | Liability of abettor for an effect caused by the act abetted different from that intended by the abettor |
| 54 | Abettor present when offence is committed |
| 55 | Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life.—if offence not committed |
| 56 | Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment—if offence be not committed |
| 57 | Abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than ten persons |
| 58 | Concealing design to commit offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life |
| 59 | Public servant concealing design to commit offence which it is his duty to prevent |
| 60 | Concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment |
| 61 | Definition of criminal conspiracy |
| 62 | Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment |
Chapter V: Of Offences against Woman and Child
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 63 | Rape |
| 64 | Punishment for rape |
| 65 | Punishment for rape on woman under twelve years of age |
| 66 | Punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim |
| 67 | Sexual intercourse by husband upon his wife during separation |
| 68 | Sexual intercourse by a person in authority |
| 69 | Sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means etc. |
| 70 | Gang rape |
| 71 | Punishment for repeat offenders |
| 72 | Disclosure of identity of the victim of certain offences, etc |
| 73 | Printing or publishing any matter relating to Court proceedings without permission |
| 74 | Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty |
| 75 | Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment |
| 76 | Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe |
| 77 | Voyeurism |
| 78 | Stalking |
| 79 | Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman |
| 80 | Dowry death |
| 81 | Cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage |
| 82 | Marrying again during lifetime of husband or wife |
| 83 | Marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage |
| 84 | Enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married woman |
| 85 | Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty |
| 86 | Cruelty defined |
| 87 | Kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc. |
| 88 | Causing miscarriage |
| 89 | Causing miscarriage without woman’s consent |
| 90 | Death caused by act done with intent to cause miscarriage |
| 91 | Act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to cause it to die after birth |
| 92 | Causing death of quick unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide |
| 93 | Exposure and abandonment of child under twelve years, by parent or person having care of it |
| 94 | Concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body |
| 95 | Hiring, employing or engaging a child to commit an offence |
| 96 | Procuration of minor girl |
| 97 | Kidnapping or abducting child under ten years with intent to steal from its person |
| 98 | Selling minor for purposes of prostitution, etc |
| 99 | Buying minor for purposes of prostitution, etc |
Chapter VI: Of Offences affecting the Human Body
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 100 | Culpable homicide |
| 101 | Murder |
| 102 | Culpable homicide by causing death of person other than person whose death was intended |
| 103 | Punishment for murder |
| 104 | Punishment for murder by life-convict |
| 105 | Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder |
| 106 | Causing death by negligence |
| 107 | Abetment of suicide of child or insane person |
| 108 | Abetment of suicide |
| 109 | Attempt to murder |
| 110 | Attempt to commit culpable homicide |
| 111 | Organised crime. |
| 112 | Petty organised crime. |
| 113 | Terrorist act |
| 114 | Hurt |
| 115 | Voluntarily causing hurt |
| 116 | Grievous hurt |
| 117 | Voluntarily causing grievous hurt |
| 118 | Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means |
| 119 | Voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act |
| 120 | Voluntarily causing hurt to extort confession, or to compel restoration of property |
| 121 | Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty |
| 122 | Voluntarily causing hurt on provocation |
| 123 | Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence |
| 124 | Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc. |
| 125 | Act endangering life or personal safety of others |
| 126 | Wrongful restraint |
| 127 | Wrongful confinement |
| 128 | Force |
| 129 | Criminal force |
| 130 | Assault |
| 131 | Punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation |
| 132 | Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty |
| 133 | Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation |
| 134 | Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person |
| 135 | Assault or criminal force in attempt wrongfully to confine a person |
| 136 | Assault or criminal force on grave provocation |
| 137 | Kidnapping |
| 138 | Abduction |
| 139 | Kidnapping or maiming a minor for purposes of begging |
| 140 | Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder |
| 141 | Importation of girl from foreign country |
| 142 | Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person |
| 143 | Trafficking of person |
| 144 | Exploitation of a trafficked person |
| 145 | Habitual dealing in slaves |
| 146 | Unlawful compulsory labour |
Chapter VII: Of Offences against the State
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 147 | Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India |
| 148 | Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 121 |
| 149 | Collecting arms, etc., with intention of waging war against the Government of India |
| 150 | Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war |
| 151 | Assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful power |
| 152 | Sedition |
| 153 | Waging war against any Asiatic Power in alliance with the Government of India |
| 154 | Committing depredation on territories of Power at peace with the Government of India |
| 155 | Receiving property taken by war or depredation mentioned in sections 125 and 126 |
| 156 | Public servant voluntarily allowing prisoner of state or war to escape |
| 157 | Public servant negligently suffering such prisoner to escape |
| 158 | Aiding escape of, rescuing or harbouring such prisoner |
Chapter VIII: Of Offences relating to the Army, Navy and Air Force
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 159 | Abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty |
| 160 | Abetment of mutiny, if mutiny is committed in consequence thereof |
| 161 | Abetment of assault by soldier, sailor or airman on his superior officer, when in execution of his office |
| 162 | Abetment of such assault, if the assault committed |
| 163 | Abetment of desertion of soldier, sailor or airman |
| 164 | Harbouring deserter |
| 165 | Deserter concealed on board merchant vessel through negligence of master |
| 166 | Abetment of act of insubordination by soldier, sailor or airman |
| 167 | Persons subject to certain Acts |
| 168 | Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman |
Chapter IX: Of Offences relating to Elections
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 169 | “Candidate”, “Electoral right” defined |
| 170 | Bribery |
| 171 | Undue influence at elections |
| 172 | Personation at elections |
| 173 | Punishment for bribery |
| 174 | Punishment for undue influence or personation at an election |
| 175 | False statement in connection with an election |
| 176 | Illegal payments in connection with an election |
| 177 | Failure to keep election accounts |
Chapter X: Of Offences relating to Coin, Currency-Notes, Bank-Notes, and Government Stamps
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 178 | Altering appearance of coin with intent that it shall pass as coin of different description |
| 179 | Delivery of coin, possessed with knowledge that it is altered |
| 180 | Possession of coin by person who knew it to be altered when he became possessed thereof |
| 181 | Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting Indian coin |
| 182 | Making or using documents resembling currency-notes or bank-notes |
| 183 | Effacing writing from substance bearing Government stamp, or removing from document a stamp used for it, with intent to cause loss to Government |
| 184 | Using Government stamp known to have been before used |
| 185 | Erasure of mark denoting that stamp has been used |
| 186 | Prohibition of fictitious stamps |
| 187 | Person employed in mint causing coin to be of different weight or composition from that fixed by law |
| 188 | Unlawfully taking coining instrument from mint |
Chapter XI: Of Offences against the Public Tranquillity
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 189 | Unlawful assembly |
| 190 | Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object |
| 191 | Rioting |
| 192 | Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot, if rioting be committed; if not committed |
| 193 | Owner or occupier of land on which an unlawful assembly is held |
| 194 | Affray |
| 195 | Assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot, etc. |
| 196 | Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony |
| 197 | Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration |
Chapter XII: Of Offences by or relating to Public Servants
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 198 | Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person |
| 199 | Public servant disobeying direction under law |
| 200 | Punishment for non-treatment of victim |
| 201 | Public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury |
| 202 | Public servant unlawfully engaging in trade |
| 203 | Public servant unlawfully buying or bidding for property |
| 204 | Personating a public servant |
| 205 | Wearing garb or carrying token used by public servant with fraudulent intent |
Chapter XIII: Of Contempts of the Lawful Authority of Public Servants
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 206 | Absconding to avoid service of summons or other proceeding |
| 207 | Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof |
| 208 | Non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant |
| 209 | Non-appearance in response to a proclamation under section 82 of Act 2 of 1974 |
| 210 | Omission to produce document to public servant by person legally bound to produce it |
| 211 | Omission to give notice or information to public servant by person legally bound to give it |
| 212 | Furnishing false information |
| 213 | Refusing oath or affirmation when duly required by public servant to make it |
| 214 | Refusing to answer public servant authorised to question |
| 215 | Refusing to sign statement |
| 216 | False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorised to administer an oath or affirmation |
| 217 | False information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person |
| 218 | Resistance to the taking of property by the lawful authority of a public servant |
| 219 | Obstructing sale of property offered for sale by authority of public servant |
| 220 | Illegal purchase or bid for property offered for sale by authority of public servant |
| 221 | Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions |
| 222 | Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance |
| 223 | Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant |
| 224 | Threat of injury to public servant |
| 225 | Threat of injury to induce person to refrain from applying for protection to public servant |
| 226 | Attempt to commit suicide to compel or restrain exercise of lawful power |
Chapter XIV: Of False Evidence and Offences against Public Justice
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 227 | Giving false evidence |
| 228 | Fabricating false evidence |
| 229 | Punishment for false evidence |
| 230 | Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence |
| 231 | Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of offence punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment |
| 232 | Threatening any person to give false evidence |
| 233 | Using evidence known to be false |
| 234 | Issuing or signing false certificate |
| 235 | Using as true a certificate known to be false |
| 236 | False statement made in declaration which is by law receivable as evidence |
| 237 | Using as true such declaration knowing it to be false |
| 238 | Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender |
| 239 | Intentional omission to give information of offence by person bound to inform |
| 240 | Giving false information respecting an offence committed |
| 241 | Destruction of document to prevent its production as evidence |
| 242 | False personation for purpose of act or proceeding in suit or prosecution |
| 243 | Fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution |
| 244 | Fraudulent claim to property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution |
| 245 | Fraudulently suffering decree for sum not due |
| 246 | Dishonestly making false claim in Court |
| 247 | Fraudulently obtaining decree for sum not due |
| 248 | False charge of offence made with intent to injure |
| 249 | Harbouring offender |
| 250 | Taking gift, etc., to screen an offender from punishment |
| 251 | Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender |
| 252 | Taking gift to help to recover stolen property, etc |
| 253 | Harbouring offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been ordered |
| 254 | Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits |
| 255 | Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture |
| 256 | Public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture |
| 257 | Public servant in judicial proceeding corruptly making report, etc., contrary to law |
| 258 | Commitment for trial or confinement by person having authority who knows that he is acting contrary to law |
| 259 | Intentional omission to apprehend on the part of public servant bound to apprehend |
| 260 | Intentional omission to apprehend on the part of public servant bound to apprehend person under sentence or lawfully committed |
| 261 | Escape from confinement or custody negligently suffered by public servant |
| 262 | Resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension |
| 263 | Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension of another person |
| 264 | Omission to apprehend, or sufferance of escape, on part of public servant, in cases not otherwise, provided for |
| 265 | Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension, or escape or rescue in cases not otherwise provided for |
| 266 | Violation of condition of remission of punishment |
| 267 | Intentional insult or interruption to public servant sitting in judicial proceeding |
| 268 | Personation of a juror or assessor |
| 269 | Failure by person released on bail or bond to appear in court |
Chapter XV: Of Offences affecting the Public Health, Safety, Convenience, Decency and Morals
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 270 | Public nuisance |
| 271 | Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life |
| 272 | Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life |
| 273 | Disobedience to quarantine rule |
| 274 | Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale |
| 275 | Sale of noxious food or drink |
| 276 | Adulteration of drugs |
| 277 | Sale of adulterated drugs |
| 278 | Sale of drug as a different drug or preparation |
| 279 | Fouling water of public spring or reservoir |
| 280 | Making atmosphere noxious to health |
| 281 | Rash driving or riding on a public way |
| 282 | Rash navigation of vessel |
| 283 | Exhibition of false light, mark or buoy |
| 284 | Conveying person by water for hire in unsafe or overloaded vessel |
| 285 | Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation |
| 286 | Negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance |
| 287 | Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter |
| 288 | Negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance |
| 289 | Negligent conduct with respect to machinery |
| 290 | Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings etc. |
| 291 | Negligent conduct with respect to animal |
| 292 | Punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for |
| 293 | Continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue |
| 294 | Sale, etc., of obscene books, etc. |
| 295 | Sale, etc., of obscene objects to young person |
| 296 | Obscene acts and songs |
| 297 | Keeping lottery office |
Chapter XVI: Of Offences relating to Religion
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 298 | Injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class |
| 299 | Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs |
| 300 | Disturbing religious assembly |
| 301 | Trespassing on burial places, etc. |
| 302 | Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings |
Chapter XVII: Of Offences against Property
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 303 | Theft |
| 304 | Snatching |
| 305 | Theft in dwelling house, etc. |
| 306 | Theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master |
| 307 | Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of the theft |
| 308 | Extortion |
| 309 | Robbery |
| 310 | Dacoity |
| 311 | Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt |
| 312 | Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon |
| 313 | Punishment for belonging to gang of thieves |
| 314 | Dishonest misappropriation of property |
| 315 | Dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of his death |
| 316 | Criminal breach of trust |
| 317 | Stolen property |
| 318 | Cheating |
| 319 | Cheating by personation |
| 320 | Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent distribution among creditors |
| 321 | Dishonestly or fraudulently preventing debt being available for creditors |
| 322 | Dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement of consideration |
| 323 | Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property |
| 324 | Mischief |
| 325 | Mischief by killing or maiming animal of the value of ten rupees |
| 326 | Mischief by injury to works of irrigation or by wrongfully diverting water |
| 327 | Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a decked vessel or one of twenty tons burden |
| 328 | Punishment for intentionally running vessel aground or ashore with intent to commit theft, etc. |
| 329 | Criminal trespass |
| 330 | Lurking house-trespass |
| 331 | Punishment for lurking house-trespass or house-breaking |
| 332 | House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with death |
| 333 | House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint |
| 334 | Dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property |
Chapter XVIII: Of Offences relating to Documents and to Property Marks
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 335 | Making a false document |
| 336 | Forgery |
| 337 | Forgery of record of Court or of public register, etc. |
| 338 | Forgery of valuable security, will, etc. |
| 339 | Having possession of document described in section 466 or 467, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it genuine |
| 340 | Forged document |
| 341 | Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable under section 467 |
| 342 | Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 467, or possessing counterfeit marked material |
| 343 | Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security |
| 344 | Falsification of accounts |
| 345 | Property mark |
| 346 | Tampering with property mark with intent to cause injury |
| 347 | Counterfeiting a property mark used by another |
| 348 | Making or possession of any instrument for counterfeiting a property mark |
| 349 | Selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark |
| 350 | Making a false mark upon any receptacle containing goods |
Chapter XIX: Of Criminal Intimidation, Insult, Annoyance, Defamation, etc.
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 351 | Criminal intimidation |
| 352 | Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace |
| 353 | Statements conducing to public mischief |
| 354 | Act caused by inducing person to believe that he will be rendered an object of the Divine displeasure |
| 355 | Misconduct in public by a drunken person |
| 356 | Defamation |
| 357 | Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person |
Chapter XX: Repeal and Savings
| Section | Title / Offence |
|---|---|
| 358 | Repeal and savings |
Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.