Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS): Complete Section Index

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 45 of 2023) is India's principal substantive criminal law replacing the Indian Penal Code, 1860, subject to the repeal-and-savings provision in section 358. Browse all 358 sections below chapter-wise.

Act No.45 of 2023

Assent / Enactment25 December 2023

General commencement1 July 2024

Total sections358

Current commencement position: Notification S.O. 850(E) dated 23 February 2024 appointed 1 July 2024 for commencement of the BNS, except section 106(2). The Ministry of Home Affairs Annual Report 2025-26 continues to record that section 106(2) has not been brought into force. For authoritative text and subsequent notifications, use the official Government links below.

India Code - BNS Official BNS PDF MHA - New Criminal Laws Commencement Notification

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Chapter I Preliminary

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

Chapter Ii Of Punishments

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

Chapter Iii General Exceptions

Section 14 Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by law Section 15 Act of Judge when acting judicially Section 16 Act done pursuant to judgment or order of Court Section 17 Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law Section 18 Accident in doing a lawful act Section 19 Act likely to cause harm, but done without criminal intent, and to prevent other harm Section 20 Act of a child under seven years of age Section 21 Act of a child above seven and under twelve years of age of immature understanding Section 22 Act of a person of unsound mind Section 23 Act of a person incapable of judgment by reason of intoxication caused against his will Section 24 Offence requiring a particular intent or knowledge committed by one who is intoxicated Section 25 Act not intended and not known to be likely to cause death or grievous hurt, done by consent Section 26 Act not intended to cause death, done by consent in good faith for person's benefit Section 27 Act done in good faith for benefit of child or person of unsound mind, by, or by consent of guardian Section 28 Consent known to be given under fear or misconception Section 29 Exclusion of acts which are offences independently of harm caused Section 30 Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent Section 31 Communication made in good faith Section 32 Act to which a person is compelled by threats Section 33 Act causing slight harm

Of right of private defence

Chapter Iv Of Abetment, Criminal Conspiracy And Attempt

Chapter V Of Offences Against Woman And Child

Of sexual offences

Section 63 Rape Section 64 Punishment for rape Section 65 Punishment for rape in certain cases Section 66 Punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim Section 67 Sexual intercourse by husband upon his wife during separation Section 68 Sexual intercourse by a person in authority Section 69 Sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means, etc Section 70 Gang rape Section 71 Punishment for repeat offenders Section 72 Disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences, etc Section 73 Printing or publishing any matter relating to Court proceedings without permission

Of criminal force and assault against woman

Section 74 Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty Section 75 Sexual harassment Section 76 Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe Section 77 Voyeurism Section 78 Stalking Section 79 Word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman

Of offences relating to marriage

Section 80 Dowry death Section 81 Cohabitation caused by man deceitfully inducing belief of lawful marriage Section 82 Marrying again during lifetime of husband or wife Section 83 Marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage Section 84 Enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married woman Section 85 Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty Section 86 Cruelty defined Section 87 Kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc

Of causing miscarriage, etc.

Section 88 Causing miscarriage Section 89 Causing miscarriage without woman's consent Section 90 Death caused by act done with intent to cause miscarriage Section 91 Act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to cause to die after birth Section 92 Causing death of quick unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide

Of offences against child

Section 93 Exposure and abandonment of child under twelve years of age, by parent or person having care of it Section 94 Concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body Section 95 Hiring, employing or engaging a child to commit an offence Section 96 Procuration of child Section 97 Kidnapping or abducting child under ten years of age with intent to steal from its person Section 98 Selling child for purposes of prostitution, etc Section 99 Buying child for purposes of prostitution, etc

Chapter Vi Of Offences Affecting The Human Body

Of offences affecting life

Section 100 Culpable homicide Section 101 Murder Section 102 Culpable homicide by causing death of person other than person whose death was intended Section 103 Punishment for murder Section 104 Punishment for murder by life-convict Section 105 Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder Section 106 Causing death by negligence Section 107 Abetment of suicide of child or person of unsound mind Section 108 Abetment of suicide Section 109 Attempt to murder Section 110 Attempt to commit culpable homicide Section 111 Organised crime Section 112 Petty organised crime Section 113 Terrorist act

Of hurt

Of wrongful restraint and wrongful confinement

Section 126 Wrongful restraint Section 127 Wrongful confinement

Of criminal force and assault

Section 128 Force Section 129 Criminal force Section 130 Assault Section 131 Punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation Section 132 Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty Section 133 Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation Section 134 Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person Section 135 Assault or criminal force in attempt to wrongfully confine a person Section 136 Assault or criminal force on grave provocation

Of kidnapping, abduction, slavery and forced labour

Section 137 Kidnapping Section 138 Abduction Section 139 Kidnapping or maiming a child for purposes of begging Section 140 Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder or for ransom, etc Section 141 Importation of girl or boy from foreign country Section 142 Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person Section 143 Trafficking of person Section 144 Exploitation of a trafficked person Section 145 Habitual dealing in slaves Section 146 Unlawful compulsory labour

Chapter Vii Of Offences Against The State

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

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

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

Chapter Ix Of Offences Relating To Elections

Section 169 Candidate, electoral right defined Section 170 Bribery Section 171 Undue influence at elections Section 172 Personation at elections Section 173 Punishment for bribery Section 174 Punishment for undue influence or personation at an election Section 175 False statement in connection with an election Section 176 Illegal payments in connection with an election Section 177 Failure to keep election accounts

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

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

Chapter Xi Of Offences Against The Public Tranquillity

Section 189 Unlawful assembly Section 190 Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object Section 191 Rioting Section 192 Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot-if rioting be committed; if not committed Section 193 Liability of owner, occupier, etc. of land on which an unlawful assembly or riot takes place Section 194 Affray Section 195 Assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot, etc Section 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 Section 197 Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration

Chapter Xii Of Offences By Or Relating To Public Servants

Section 198 Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person Section 199 Public servant disobeying direction under law Section 200 Punishment for nontreatment of victim Section 201 Public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury Section 202 Public servant unlawfully engaging in trade Section 203 Public servant unlawfully buying or bidding for property Section 204 Personating a public servant Section 205 Wearing garb or carrying token used by public servant with fraudulent intent

Chapter Xiii Of Contempts Of The Lawful Authority Of Public Servants

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

Chapter Xiv Of False Evidence And Offences Against Public Justice

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

Chapter Xv Of Offences Affecting The Public Health, Safety, Convenience, Decency And Morals

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

Chapter Xvi Of Offences Relating To Religion

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

Chapter Xvii Of Offences Against Property

Of theft

Section 303 Theft Section 304 Snatching Section 305 Theft in a dwelling house, or means of transportation or place of worship, etc Section 306 Theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master Section 307 Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to committing of theft

Of extortion

Section 308 Extortion

Of robbery and dacoity

Section 309 Robbery Section 310 Dacoity Section 311 Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt Section 312 Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon Section 313 Punishment for belonging to gang of robbers, etc

Of criminal misappropriation of property

Section 314 Dishonest misappropriation of property Section 315 Dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of his death

Of criminal breach of trust

Section 316 Criminal breach of trust

Of receiving stolen property

Section 317 Stolen property

Of cheating

Section 318 Cheating Section 319 Cheating by personation

Of fraudulent deeds and dispositions of property

Section 320 Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent distribution among creditors Section 321 Dishonestly or fraudulently preventing debt being available for creditors Section 322 Dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement of consideration Section 323 Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property

Of mischief

Section 324 Mischief Section 325 Mischief by killing or maiming animal Section 326 Mischief by injury, inundation, fire or explosive substance, etc Section 327 Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a rail, aircraft, decked vessel or one of twenty tons burden Section 328 Punishment for intentionally running vessel aground or ashore with intent to commit theft, etc

Of criminal trespass

Section 329 Criminal trespass and house-trespass Section 330 House-trespass and housebreaking Section 331 Punishment for house-trespass or housebreaking Section 332 House-trespass in order to commit offence Section 333 House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint Section 334 Dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property

Chapter Xviii Of Offences Relating To Documents And To Property Marks

Section 335 Making a false document Section 336 Forgery Section 337 Forgery of record of Court or of public register, etc Section 338 Forgery of valuable security, will, etc Section 339 Having possession of document described in section 337 or section 338, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it as genuine Section 340 Forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine Section 341 Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable under section 338 Section 342 Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 338, or possessing counterfeit marked material Section 343 Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security Section 344 Falsification of accounts

Of property marks

Section 345 Property mark Section 346 Tampering with property mark with intent to cause injury Section 347 Counterfeiting a property mark Section 348 Making or possession of any instrument for counterfeiting a property mark Section 349 Selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark Section 350 Making a false mark upon any receptacle containing goods

Chapter Xix Of Criminal Intimidation, Insult, Annoyance, Defamation, Etc.

Section 351 Criminal intimidation Section 352 Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace Section 353 Statements conducing to public mischief Section 354 Act caused by inducing person to believe that he will be rendered an object of Divine displeasure Section 355 Misconduct in public by a drunken person

Of defamation

Section 356 Defamation

Of breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person

Section 357 Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person

Chapter Xx Repeal And Savings

Section 358 Repeal and savings

Legal note: This page is an informational navigation index. In case of any difference, amendment, notification or commencement issue, refer to the Gazette of India, India Code and other official Government publications.