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Wednesday, 11 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XII: Preventive Action Of The Police

Section 168 BNSS: Police to prevent cognizable offences

Corresponding CrPC
Section 149 CrPC

Bare Act text

Every police officer may interpose for the purpose of preventing, and shall, to the best of his ability, prevent, the commission of any cognizable offence.

Text as enacted in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 46 of 2023), in force from 1 July 2024. Source: India Code, Government of India.

In simple words

Allows every police officer to interpose to prevent, and requires every police officer to prevent to the best of his ability, the commission of any cognizable offence.

Chapter XII: Preventive Action Of The Police

  1. 168 Police to prevent cognizable offences
  2. 169 Information of design to commit cognizable offences
  3. 170 Arrest to prevent commission of cognizable offences
  4. 171 Prevention of injury to public property
  5. 172 Persons bound to conform to lawful directions of police
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