Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XI: Of Offences Against The Public Tranquillity

Section 191 BNS: Rioting

Corresponding IPC: Section 146, 147, 148 IPC
Punishment: Rioting: up to 2 years, or fine, or both; armed rioting: up to 5 years, or fine, or both
Note: Merges rioting and rioting armed with a deadly weapon into one section.

Classification of offence

Section	Cognizable?	Bailable?	Triable by
191(2)	Cognizable	Bailable	Any Magistrate
191(3)	Cognizable	Bailable	Magistrate of the first class

As per the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Bare Act text

(1) Whenever force or violence is used by an unlawful assembly, or by any member thereof, in prosecution of the common object of such assembly, every member of such assembly is guilty of the offence of rioting.

(2) Whoever is guilty of rioting, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

(3) Whoever is guilty of rioting, being armed with a deadly weapon or with anything which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.

Text as enacted in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 45 of 2023), in force from 1 July 2024. Source: India Code, Government of India.

In simple words

Whenever an unlawful assembly or any member uses force or violence in pursuing its common object, every member is guilty of rioting. A higher penalty applies if armed with a deadly weapon.