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Wednesday, 11 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter II: Of Punishments

Section 4 BNS: Punishments

Corresponding IPC
Section 53 IPC
Note
Adds community service as a new form of punishment.

Bare Act text

The punishments to which offenders are liable under the provisions of this Sanhita are—

(a) Death;

(b) Imprisonment for life;

(c) Imprisonment, which is of two descriptions, namely:—

(1) Rigorous, that is, with hard labour;

(2) Simple;

(d) Forfeiture of property;

(e) Fine;

(f) Community Service.

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

Lists the punishments under the Sanhita: death, life imprisonment, imprisonment (rigorous or simple), forfeiture of property, fine and community service. Community service is new compared with the IPC list.

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