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Tuesday, 10 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: All 358 Sections

The complete Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Act No. 45 of 2023), which replaced the Indian Penal Code from 1 July 2024. Each section has its own page with the official text, the corresponding IPC section, the punishment and a plain-English explanation.

Chapter I: Preliminary

  1. 1 Short title, commencement and application
  2. 2 Definitions
  3. 3 General explanations

Chapter II: Of Punishments

  1. 4 Punishments
  2. 5 Commutation of sentence
  3. 6 Fractions of terms of punishment
  4. 7 Sentence may be (in certain cases of imprisonment) wholly or partly rigorous or simple
  5. 8 Amount of fine, liability in default of payment of fine, etc
  6. 9 Limit of punishment of offence made up of several offences
  7. 10 Punishment of person guilty of one of several offences, judgment stating that it is doubtful of which
  8. 11 Solitary confinement
  9. 12 Limit of solitary confinement
  10. 13 Enhanced punishment for certain offences after previous conviction

Chapter III: General Exceptions

  1. 14 Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by law
  2. 15 Act of Judge when acting judicially
  3. 16 Act done pursuant to judgment or order of Court
  4. 17 Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law
  5. 18 Accident in doing a lawful act
  6. 19 Act likely to cause harm, but done without criminal intent, and to prevent other harm
  7. 20 Act of a child under seven years of age
  8. 21 Act of a child above seven and under twelve years of age of immature understanding
  9. 22 Act of a person of unsound mind
  10. 23 Act of a person incapable of judgment by reason of intoxication caused against his will
  11. 24 Offence requiring a particular intent or knowledge committed by one who is intoxicated
  12. 25 Act not intended and not known to be likely to cause death or grievous hurt, done by consent
  13. 26 Act not intended to cause death, done by consent in good faith for person's benefit
  14. 27 Act done in good faith for benefit of child or person of unsound mind, by, or by consent of guardian
  15. 28 Consent known to be given under fear or misconception
  16. 29 Exclusion of acts which are offences independently of harm caused
  17. 30 Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent
  18. 31 Communication made in good faith
  19. 32 Act to which a person is compelled by threats
  20. 33 Act causing slight harm
  21. 34 Things done in private defence
  22. 35 Right of private defence of body and of property
  23. 36 Right of private defence against act of a person of unsound mind, etc
  24. 37 Acts against which there is no right of private defence
  25. 38 When right of private defence of body extends to causing death
  26. 39 When such right extends to causing any harm other than death
  27. 40 Commencement and continuance of right of private defence of body
  28. 41 When right of private defence of property extends to causing death
  29. 42 When such right extends to causing any harm other than death
  30. 43 Commencement and continuance of right of private defence of property
  31. 44 Right of private defence against deadly assault when there is risk of harm to innocent person of abetment

Chapter IV: Of Abetment, Criminal Conspiracy And Attempt

  1. 45 Abetment of a thing
  2. 46 Abettor
  3. 47 Abetment in India of offences outside India
  4. 48 Abetment outside India for offence in India
  5. 49 Punishment of abetment if act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment
  6. 50 Punishment of abetment if person abetted does act with different intention from that of abettor
  7. 51 Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done
  8. 52 Abettor when liable to cumulative punishment for act abetted and for act done
  9. 53 Liability of abettor for an effect caused by act abetted different from that intended by abettor
  10. 54 Abettor present when offence is committed
  11. 55 Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
  12. 56 Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment
  13. 57 Abetting commission of offence by public or by more than ten persons
  14. 58 Concealing design to commit offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
  15. 59 Public servant concealing design to commit offence which it is his duty to prevent
  16. 60 Concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
  17. 61 Criminal conspiracy
  18. 62 Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment

Chapter V: Of Offences Against Woman And Child

  1. 63 Rape
  2. 64 Punishment for rape
  3. 65 Punishment for rape in certain cases
  4. 66 Punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim
  5. 67 Sexual intercourse by husband upon his wife during separation
  6. 68 Sexual intercourse by a person in authority
  7. 69 Sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means, etc
  8. 70 Gang rape
  9. 71 Punishment for repeat offenders
  10. 72 Disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences, etc
  11. 73 Printing or publishing any matter relating to Court proceedings without permission
  12. 74 Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty
  13. 75 Sexual harassment
  14. 76 Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe
  15. 77 Voyeurism
  16. 78 Stalking
  17. 79 Word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman
  18. 80 Dowry death
  19. 81 Cohabitation caused by man deceitfully inducing belief of lawful marriage
  20. 82 Marrying again during lifetime of husband or wife
  21. 83 Marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage
  22. 84 Enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married woman
  23. 85 Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty
  24. 86 Cruelty defined
  25. 87 Kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc
  26. 88 Causing miscarriage
  27. 89 Causing miscarriage without woman's consent
  28. 90 Death caused by act done with intent to cause miscarriage
  29. 91 Act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to cause to die after birth
  30. 92 Causing death of quick unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide
  31. 93 Exposure and abandonment of child under twelve years of age, by parent or person having care of it
  32. 94 Concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body
  33. 95 Hiring, employing or engaging a child to commit an offence
  34. 96 Procuration of child
  35. 97 Kidnapping or abducting child under ten years of age with intent to steal from its person
  36. 98 Selling child for purposes of prostitution, etc
  37. 99 Buying child for purposes of prostitution, etc

Chapter VI: Of Offences Affecting The Human Body

  1. 100 Culpable homicide
  2. 101 Murder
  3. 102 Culpable homicide by causing death of person other than person whose death was intended
  4. 103 Punishment for murder
  5. 104 Punishment for murder by life-convict
  6. 105 Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder
  7. 106 Causing death by negligence
  8. 107 Abetment of suicide of child or person of unsound mind
  9. 108 Abetment of suicide
  10. 109 Attempt to murder
  11. 110 Attempt to commit culpable homicide
  12. 111 Organised crime
  13. 112 Petty organised crime
  14. 113 Terrorist act
  15. 114 Hurt
  16. 115 Voluntarily causing hurt
  17. 116 Grievous hurt
  18. 117 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt
  19. 118 Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means
  20. 119 Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act
  21. 120 Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to extort confession, or to compel restoration of property
  22. 121 Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty
  23. 122 Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt on provocation
  24. 123 Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence
  25. 124 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc
  26. 125 Act endangering life or personal safety of others
  27. 126 Wrongful restraint
  28. 127 Wrongful confinement
  29. 128 Force
  30. 129 Criminal force
  31. 130 Assault
  32. 131 Punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation
  33. 132 Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty
  34. 133 Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation
  35. 134 Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person
  36. 135 Assault or criminal force in attempt to wrongfully confine a person
  37. 136 Assault or criminal force on grave provocation
  38. 137 Kidnapping
  39. 138 Abduction
  40. 139 Kidnapping or maiming a child for purposes of begging
  41. 140 Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder or for ransom, etc
  42. 141 Importation of girl or boy from foreign country
  43. 142 Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person
  44. 143 Trafficking of person
  45. 144 Exploitation of a trafficked person
  46. 145 Habitual dealing in slaves
  47. 146 Unlawful compulsory labour

Chapter VII: Of Offences Against The State

  1. 147 Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against Government of
  2. 148 Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 147
  3. 149 Collecting arms, etc., with intention of waging war against Government of India
  4. 150 Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war
  5. 151 Assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain exercise of any lawful power
  6. 152 Act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India
  7. 153 Waging war against Government of any foreign State at peace with Government of India
  8. 154 Committing depredation on territories of foreign State at peace with Government of India
  9. 155 Receiving property taken by war or depredation mentioned in sections 153 and 154
  10. 156 Public servant voluntarily allowing prisoner of State or war to escape
  11. 157 Public servant negligently suffering such prisoner to escape
  12. 158 Aiding escape of, rescuing or harbouring such prisoner

Chapter VIII: Of Offences Relating To The Army, Navy And Air Force

  1. 159 Abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty
  2. 160 Abetment of mutiny, if mutiny is committed in consequence thereof
  3. 161 Abetment of assault by soldier, sailor or airman on his superior officer, when in execution of his office
  4. 162 Abetment of such assault, if assault committed
  5. 163 Abetment of desertion of soldier, sailor or airman
  6. 164 Harbouring deserter
  7. 165 Deserter concealed on board merchant vessel through negligence of master
  8. 166 Abetment of act of insubordination by soldier, sailor or airman
  9. 167 Persons subject to certain Acts
  10. 168 Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman

Chapter IX: Of Offences Relating To Elections

  1. 169 Candidate, electoral right defined
  2. 170 Bribery
  3. 171 Undue influence at elections
  4. 172 Personation at elections
  5. 173 Punishment for bribery
  6. 174 Punishment for undue influence or personation at an election
  7. 175 False statement in connection with an election
  8. 176 Illegal payments in connection with an election
  9. 177 Failure to keep election accounts

Chapter X: Of Offences Relating To Coin, Currency-notes, Bank-notes, And Government Stamps

  1. 178 Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes
  2. 179 Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
  3. 180 Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
  4. 181 Making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
  5. 182 Making or using documents resembling currency-notes or bank-notes
  6. 183 Effacing writing from substance bearing Government stamp, or removing from document a stamp used for it, with intent to cause loss to Government
  7. 184 Using Government stamp known to have been before used
  8. 185 Erasure of mark denoting that stamp has been used
  9. 186 Prohibition of fictitious stamps
  10. 187 Person employed in mint causing coin to be of different weight or composition from that fixed by law
  11. 188 Unlawfully taking coining instrument from mint

Chapter XI: Of Offences Against The Public Tranquillity

  1. 189 Unlawful assembly
  2. 190 Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object
  3. 191 Rioting
  4. 192 Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot-if rioting be committed; if not committed
  5. 193 Liability of owner, occupier, etc., of land on which an unlawful assembly or riot takes place
  6. 194 Affray
  7. 195 Assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot, etc
  8. 196 Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony
  9. 197 Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration

Chapter XII: Of Offences By Or Relating To Public Servants

  1. 198 Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person
  2. 199 Public servant disobeying direction under law
  3. 200 Punishment for non-treatment of victim
  4. 201 Public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury
  5. 202 Public servant unlawfully engaging in trade
  6. 203 Public servant unlawfully buying or bidding for property
  7. 204 Personating a public servant
  8. 205 Wearing garb or carrying token used by public servant with fraudulent intent

Chapter XIII: Of Contempts Of The Lawful Authority Of Public Servants

  1. 206 Absconding to avoid service of summons or other proceeding
  2. 207 Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof
  3. 208 Non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant
  4. 209 Non-appearance in response to a proclamation under section 84 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
  5. 210 Omission to produce document or electronic record to public servant by person legally bound to produce it
  6. 211 Omission to give notice or information to public servant by person legally bound to give it
  7. 212 Furnishing false information
  8. 213 Refusing oath or affirmation when duly required by public servant to make it
  9. 214 Refusing to answer public servant authorised to question
  10. 215 Refusing to sign statement
  11. 216 False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorised to administer an oath or affirmation
  12. 217 False information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to injury of another person
  13. 218 Resistance to taking of property by lawful authority of a public servant
  14. 219 Obstructing sale of property offered for sale by authority of public servant
  15. 220 Illegal purchase or bid for property offered for sale by authority of public servant
  16. 221 Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions
  17. 222 Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance
  18. 223 Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant
  19. 224 Threat of injury to public servant
  20. 225 Threat of injury to induce person to refrain from applying for protection to public servant
  21. 226 Attempt to commit suicide to compel or restrain exercise of lawful power

Chapter XIV: Of False Evidence And Offences Against Public Justice

  1. 227 Giving false evidence
  2. 228 Fabricating false evidence
  3. 229 Punishment for false evidence
  4. 230 Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence
  5. 231 Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of offence punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment
  6. 232 Threatening any person to give false evidence
  7. 233 Using evidence known to be false
  8. 234 Issuing or signing false certificate
  9. 235 Using as true a certificate known to be false
  10. 236 False statement made in declaration which is by law receivable as evidence
  11. 237 Using as true such declaration knowing it to be false
  12. 238 Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender
  13. 239 Intentional omission to give information of offence by person bound to inform
  14. 240 Giving false information respecting an offence committed
  15. 241 Destruction of document or electronic record to prevent its production as evidence
  16. 242 False personation for purpose of act or proceeding in suit or prosecution
  17. 243 Fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution
  18. 244 Fraudulent claim to property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution
  19. 245 Fraudulently suffering decree for sum not due
  20. 246 Dishonestly making false claim in Court
  21. 247 Fraudulently obtaining decree for sum not due
  22. 248 False charge of offence made with intent to injure
  23. 249 Harbouring offender
  24. 250 Taking gift, etc., to screen an offender from punishment
  25. 251 Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender
  26. 252 Taking gift to help to recover stolen property, etc
  27. 253 Harbouring offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been ordered
  28. 254 Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits
  29. 255 Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture
  30. 256 Public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture
  31. 257 Public servant in judicial proceeding corruptly making report, etc., contrary to law
  32. 258 Commitment for trial or confinement by person having authority who knows that he is acting contrary to law
  33. 259 Intentional omission to apprehend on part of public servant bound to apprehend
  34. 260 Intentional omission to apprehend on part of public servant bound to apprehend person under sentence or lawfully committed
  35. 261 Escape from confinement or custody negligently suffered by public servant
  36. 262 Resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension
  37. 263 Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension of another person
  38. 264 Omission to apprehend, or sufferance of escape, on part of public servant, in cases not otherwise provided for
  39. 265 Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension or escape or rescue in cases not otherwise provided for
  40. 266 Violation of condition of remission of punishment
  41. 267 Intentional insult or interruption to public servant sitting in judicial proceeding
  42. 268 Personation of assessor
  43. 269 Failure by person released on bail bond or bond to appear in Court

Chapter XV: Of Offences Affecting The Public Health, Safety, Convenience,

  1. 270 Public nuisance
  2. 271 Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life
  3. 272 Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life
  4. 273 Disobedience to quarantine rule
  5. 274 Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale
  6. 275 Sale of noxious food or drink
  7. 276 Adulteration of drugs
  8. 277 Sale of adulterated drugs
  9. 278 Sale of drug as a different drug or preparation
  10. 279 Fouling water of public spring or reservoir
  11. 280 Making atmosphere noxious to health
  12. 281 Rash driving or riding on a public way
  13. 282 Rash navigation of vessel
  14. 283 Exhibition of false light, mark or buoy
  15. 284 Conveying person by water for hire in unsafe or overloaded vessel
  16. 285 Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation
  17. 286 Negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance
  18. 287 Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter
  19. 288 Negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance
  20. 289 Negligent conduct with respect to machinery
  21. 290 Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings, etc
  22. 291 Negligent conduct with respect to animal
  23. 292 Punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for
  24. 293 Continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue
  25. 294 Sale, etc., of obscene books, etc
  26. 295 Sale, etc., of obscene objects to child
  27. 296 Obscene acts and songs
  28. 297 Keeping lottery office

Chapter XVI: Of Offences Relating To Religion

  1. 298 Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult religion of any class
  2. 299 Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs
  3. 300 Disturbing religious assembly
  4. 301 Trespassing on burial places, etc
  5. 302 Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings of any person

Chapter XVII: Of Offences Against Property

  1. 303 Theft
  2. 304 Snatching
  3. 305 Theft in a dwelling house, or means of transportation or place of worship, etc
  4. 306 Theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master
  5. 307 Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to committing of theft
  6. 308 Extortion
  7. 309 Robbery
  8. 310 Dacoity
  9. 311 Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt
  10. 312 Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon
  11. 313 Punishment for belonging to gang of robbers, etc
  12. 314 Dishonest misappropriation of property
  13. 315 Dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of his death
  14. 316 Criminal breach of trust
  15. 317 Stolen property
  16. 318 Cheating
  17. 319 Cheating by personation
  18. 320 Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent distribution among creditors
  19. 321 Dishonestly or fraudulently preventing debt being available for creditors
  20. 322 Dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement of consideration
  21. 323 Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property
  22. 324 Mischief
  23. 325 Mischief by killing or maiming animal
  24. 326 Mischief by injury, inundation, fire or explosive substance, etc
  25. 327 Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a rail, aircraft, decked vessel or one of twenty tons burden
  26. 328 Punishment for intentionally running vessel aground or ashore with intent to commit theft, etc
  27. 329 Criminal trespass and house-trespass
  28. 330 House-trespass and hous-ebreaking
  29. 331 Punishment for house-trespass or house-breaking
  30. 332 House-trespass in order to commit offence
  31. 333 House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint
  32. 334 Dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property

Chapter XVIII: Of Offences Relating To Documents And To Property Marks

  1. 335 Making a false document
  2. 336 Forgery
  3. 337 Forgery of record of Court or of public register, etc
  4. 338 Forgery of valuable security, will, etc
  5. 339 Having possession of document described in section 337 or section 338, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it as genuine
  6. 340 Forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine
  7. 341 Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable under section 338
  8. 342 Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 338, or possessing counterfeit marked material
  9. 343 Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security
  10. 344 Falsification of accounts
  11. 345 Property mark
  12. 346 Tampering with property mark with intent to cause injury
  13. 347 Counterfeiting a property mark
  14. 348 Making or possession of any instrument for counterfeiting a property mark
  15. 349 Selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark
  16. 350 Making a false mark upon any receptacle containing goods

Chapter XIX: Of Criminal Intimidation, Insult, Annoyance, Defamation, Etc.

  1. 351 Criminal intimidation
  2. 352 Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace
  3. 353 Statements conducing to public mischief
  4. 354 Act caused by inducing person to believe that he will be rendered an object of Divine displeasure
  5. 355 Misconduct in public by a drunken person
  6. 356 Defamation
  7. 357 Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person

Chapter XX: Repeal And Savings

  1. 358 Repeal and savings