Section 511 IPC: Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 511 IPC at a Glance
Section 511 IPC deals with punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment. It is triable by The court by which the offence attempted is triable; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 62 BNS.
Imprisonment of any description provided for the offence attempted, for up to one-half of the imprisonment for life or one-half of the longest term provided for that offence.
Section 511 IPC Bare Act Text
511. Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment
Whoever attempts to commit an offence punishable by this Code with imprisonment for life or imprisonment, or to cause such an offence to be committed, and in such attempt does any act towards the commission of the offence, shall, where no express provision is made by this Code for the punishment of such attempt, be punished with imprisonment of any description provided for the offence, for a term which may extend to one-half of the imprisonment for life or, as the case may be, one-half of the longest term of imprisonment provided for that offence, or with such fine as is provided for the offence, or with both.
Illustrations(a) A makes an attempt to steal some jewels by breaking open a box, and finds after so opening the box, that there is no jewel in it. He has done an act towards the commission of theft, and therefore is guilty under this section.
(b) A makes an attempt to pick the pocket of Z by thrusting his hand into Z's pocket. A fails in the attempt in consequence of Z's having nothing in his pocket. A is guilty under this section.
Source: Section 511, Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 511 IPC in Simple Words
Section 511 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes an attempt to commit an offence punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment, or to cause such an offence to be committed, where the accused does any act towards its commission and the Code makes no express provision for punishing that attempt.
The punishment is imprisonment of any description provided for the offence, for up to one-half of the imprisonment for life or one-half of the longest term provided for the offence, or the fine provided for the offence, or both.
Ingredients of Section 511 IPC
- The accused attempts to commit an offence punishable by the Code with imprisonment for life or imprisonment, or to cause such an offence to be committed
- In that attempt he does an act towards the commission of the offence
- The Code makes no express provision elsewhere for the punishment of such attempt
Punishment Under Section 511 IPC
Imprisonment of any description provided for the offence attempted, for up to one-half of the imprisonment for life or one-half of the longest term provided for that offence.
The fine provided for the offence attempted, in place of imprisonment, or with it.
The First Schedule and Section 320(3) CrPC classify an attempt by reference to the offence attempted, so cognizance, bail, the trial court and compounding all follow that offence.
- Cognizable: According as the offence attempted is cognizable or non-cognizable
- Bailable: According as the offence attempted by the offender is bailable or not
- Compoundable: Where the offence attempted is compoundable, Section 320(3) CrPC lets the attempt be compounded in like manner. Otherwise it cannot be compounded.
An attempt that no other section punishes carries up to one-half of the imprisonment provided for the offence attempted, or the fine provided for it, or both. Cognizance, bail, the trial court and compounding all follow the offence attempted.
Example of Section 511 IPC
When Section 511 IPC Does Not Apply
- Section 511 IPC does not apply when another provision of the Indian Penal Code specifically prescribes the punishment for attempting that particular offence.
- Section 511 IPC does not apply when the offence sought to be committed is punishable solely with a fine and not with imprisonment for life or any other term of imprisonment.
- Section 511 IPC does not apply when a person stops at mere preparation and performs no act towards the commission of the offence.
Section 511 IPC in the BNS
Section 511 IPC is now covered under Section 62 BNS.
Section 511 IPC corresponds to Section 62 BNS. The phrase this Code is replaced by this Sanhita throughout the provision, while preserving identical principles, punishments and illustrations.
View detailed comparison (IPC 511 vs BNS 62) →FAQs on Section 511 IPC
What does Section 511 IPC punish?▼
It punishes attempting to commit an offence punishable by the Code with imprisonment for life or imprisonment, or causing such an offence to be committed, where an act is done towards its commission and no express provision is made elsewhere in the Code for punishing that attempt, with imprisonment for up to one-half of the imprisonment for life or one-half of the longest term provided for that offence, or with fine, or with both.
Does Section 511 IPC apply to every criminal attempt?▼
No. It applies only where the offence attempted is punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment, and where the Code makes no specific provision for punishing that attempt. Where an express section such as Section 307 IPC punishes the attempt, that specific section applies.
Is an attempt complete under Section 511 IPC if the offence was impossible to complete?▼
Yes. The illustrations explicitly establish that breaking open a jewel box that turns out to be empty, or thrusting a hand into a pocket that contains nothing, constitutes an attempt under this section.
Is an attempt under Section 511 IPC cognizable and bailable?▼
Cognizance and bail follow the offence attempted. Under the First Schedule to the CrPC, the attempt is cognizable or non-cognizable, and bailable or non-bailable, according as the offence attempted is.
Which court tries an offence under Section 511 IPC?▼
The court by which the offence attempted is triable.
Can an offence under Section 511 IPC be compounded?▼
Under Section 320(3) CrPC, an attempt to commit a compoundable offence may be compounded in like manner. If the offence attempted cannot be compounded, the attempt cannot be compounded.
Where is Section 511 IPC placed in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼
It is placed in Section 62 BNS, in Chapter IV, retaining identical wording and punishment while replacing this Code with this Sanhita.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·