Section 33 IPC: “Act”. “Omission”

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 33 IPC at a Glance

Section 33 IPC defines the term “Act”. “Omission”. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 2(1) and 2(25) BNS.

Punishment

None. Section 33 IPC creates no offence.

BNS Equivalent

Section 33 IPC Bare Act Text

33. “Act”. “Omission”
The word “act” denotes as well a series of acts as a single act: the word “omission” denotes as well a series of omissions as a single omission.

Source: Section 33, Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 33 IPC in Simple Words

Section 33 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) defines two words. The word act denotes a series of acts as well as a single act, and the word omission denotes a series of omissions as well as a single omission. The section creates no offence and sets no punishment.

Ingredients of Section 33 IPC

The word act denotes a single act
The word act also denotes a series of acts
The word omission denotes a single omission
The word omission also denotes a series of omissions

Punishment Under Section 33 IPC

Imprisonment

None. Section 33 IPC creates no offence.

Fine

None.

Section 33 IPC is a definition. It has no entry in the First Schedule to the CrPC.

Example of Section 33 IPC

In 2015 in Chandigarh, Rajeev struck his neighbour Kunal once with a cane and then delivered a connected series of blows during the same assault, while a security guard named Dinesh, who was legally bound to lock the compound gates every evening, failed to lock them on one night and then repeated that series of failures over an entire week. Whether the conduct consisted of a single blow or a series of blows, and whether the failure was a single omission or a series of omissions, the blows constituted an act and the failures constituted an omission under Section 33 IPC.

When Section 33 IPC Does Not Apply

Section 33 IPC does not apply when a person has only an unexpressed mental state with neither a single act or series of acts nor a single omission or series of omissions.
Section 33 IPC does not apply by itself to make an omission punishable where the omission is not an illegal omission under the Code.
Section 33 IPC does not apply as an independent offence or prescribe any punishment, since it only defines the words act and omission.

Section 33 IPC in the BNS

Section 33 IPC is now covered under Section 2(1) and 2(25) BNS.

The BNS defines the two words in two separate clauses. Act is Section 2(1) BNS and omission is Section 2(25) BNS, so they no longer sit together in one provision. Each clause says that the word denotes a series as well as a single one.

View detailed comparison (IPC 33 vs BNS 2(1) and 2(25)) →

FAQs on Section 33 IPC

What does Section 33 IPC say?▼

That the word act denotes a series of acts as well as a single act, and the word omission denotes a series of omissions as well as a single omission.

Under Section 33 IPC, why does it matter that act covers a series of acts?▼

A section that speaks of an act is read to cover a connected series of acts as well as one act.

Does Section 33 IPC say what an act is?▼

No. It speaks only of number, one or a series. The section charged decides what conduct is an act.

Does Section 33 IPC make a failure to act an offence?▼

No. Section 32 IPC extends words which refer to acts done to illegal omissions, and Section 43 IPC says when an omission is illegal. Section 33 IPC only adds that an omission may be a series.

Does Section 33 IPC create an offence?▼

No. It is a definition and sets no punishment. The punishment comes from the section charged.

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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·