Section 152 BNS: Act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

This section has been repealed and creates no offence

Section 124A was repealed with the rest of the Indian Penal Code when the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 came into force on 1 July 2024. Its operation had already been suspended before that. In S.G. Vombatkere v. Union of India, an order dated 11 May 2022 by a bench of Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli directed that no new FIRs be registered under this section and that all pending proceedings be kept in abeyance, while the Union re-examined the provision. The Supreme Court has never held Section 124A unconstitutional. Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar (1962) upheld it while confining it to speech tending to incite violence or public disorder, and that decision still stands. The classification below describes the section as it stood and has no operative effect today. The official comparison of the two Codes shows Section 124A as deleted and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as a new section. Section 152 is differently framed, as it targets secession, armed rebellion and subversive activities and not disaffection towards the Government.

Section 152 BNS at a Glance

Section 152 BNS dealt with act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. It is no longer in force; see the note above.

Punishment

Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment which may extend to seven years.

Non-Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Court of Session ⓘ
IPC Equivalent

Section 124A →

Section 152 BNS Bare Act Text

152. Sedition

Whoever, purposely or knowingly, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or by electronic communication or by use of financial mean, or otherwise, excites or attempts to excite, secession or armed rebellion or subversive activities, or encourages feelings of separatist activities or endangers sovereignty or unity and integrity of India; or indulges in or commits any such act shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation

Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures, or administrative or other action of the Government with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means without exciting or attempting to excite the activities referred to in this section do not constitute an offence under this section.

Source: Section 152, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Section 152 BNS in Simple Words

Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) deals with acts that endanger the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. It applies to anyone who purposely or knowingly uses spoken or written words, signs, visible representation, electronic communication, financial means, or any other means to excite or attempt to excite secession, armed rebellion, or subversive activities, or to encourage feelings of separatist activities, or to endanger the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, or who indulges in or commits any such act.

The Explanation to this section makes clear that comments expressing disapprobation of the measures, or administrative or other action of the Government, with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, do not constitute an offence so long as they do not excite or attempt to excite the prohibited activities. An offender under this section is punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment which may extend to seven years, and is also liable to fine.

Ingredients of Section 152 BNS

  • Purposely or knowingly using words, signs, visible representation, electronic communication, financial means, or any other means
  • Exciting or attempting to excite secession, armed rebellion or subversive activities, or encouraging separatist feelings
  • Endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, or indulging in or committing any such act

Punishment Under Section 152 BNS

Imprisonment

Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment which may extend to seven years.

Fine

The offender is also liable to fine in addition to imprisonment.

Non-Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Court of Session ⓘ

An offence under Section 152 BNS is punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment up to seven years, and liability to fine.

Example of Section 152 BNS

A man writes and circulates messages through electronic communication purposely urging people to take up armed rebellion and secede from India, and uses financial means to support those subversive activities. Because he purposely excites armed rebellion and secession and endangers the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, he can be charged under Section 152 BNS.

When Section 152 BNS Does Not Apply

  • The comments only expressed disapprobation of the measures of the Government, with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite secession, armed rebellion, subversive activities, or separatist feelings
  • The comments only expressed disapprobation of the administrative or other action of the Government, with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite the activities referred to in Section 152 BNS
  • The person did not purposely or knowingly excite or attempt to excite secession, armed rebellion or subversive activities, encourage feelings of separatist activities, or endanger the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India

Section 152 BNS in the IPC (Previous Law)

Section 152 BNS replaces Section 124A IPC from the old criminal code.

Section 124A IPC was not carried into the BNS. The BNS drops sedition and enacts a new offence in Section 152 BNS, for acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. The new offence speaks of secession, armed rebellion and subversive activities and no longer of disaffection towards the Government. It carries imprisonment for life, or up to seven years, and fine.

View IPC Section 124A →

FAQs on Section 152 BNS

Is Section 152 BNS in force and what does it cover?▼

Yes. Section 152 BNS is in force. It punishes anyone who purposely or knowingly excites or attempts to excite secession, armed rebellion, or subversive activities, encourages feelings of separatist activities, or endangers the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, or indulges in or commits any such act.

Is lawful criticism of Government measures punishable under Section 152 BNS?▼

No. The Explanation to Section 152 BNS states that comments expressing disapprobation of the measures, or administrative or other action of the Government, with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, do not constitute an offence so long as they do not excite or attempt to excite the activities prohibited by this section.

What means of communication or action are covered under Section 152 BNS?▼

Section 152 BNS covers spoken or written words, signs, visible representation, electronic communication, the use of financial means, or any other means used purposely or knowingly to commit the offence.

What is the punishment under Section 152 BNS?▼

An offence under Section 152 BNS is punishable with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment which may extend to seven years, and the offender is also liable to a fine.

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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·