Important IPC Sections and Current BNS Equivalents
The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) was repealed as the general penal code when the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) came into force on 1 July 2024, except Section 106(2), whose commencement was excluded from the original notification. IPC sections remain important for offences committed before repeal, legacy proceedings and case-law study because BNS Section 358 contains a savings clause.
How to use this page: the BNS column is the current-law reference. IPC numbers are retained for exam comparison, older judgments and pre-1 July 2024 offences. A BNS provision is not always a one-for-one renumbering: several IPC definition and punishment sections have been combined, reorganised or omitted.
Theft, Extortion, Robbery, Dacoity, Cheating and Property Offences
| Legacy IPC | IPC description | Current BNS | Current position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 378 / 379 | Theft / punishment | Section 303 | Definition and punishment consolidated in BNS. |
| 383 / 384 | Extortion / punishment | Section 308 | Extortion and punishment dealt with in Section 308. |
| 390 / 392 | Robbery / punishment | Section 309 | Robbery and punishment consolidated. |
| 391 / 395 | Dacoity / punishment | Section 310 | Dacoity and related punishment consolidated. |
| 403 | Dishonest misappropriation of property | Section 314 | Current corresponding offence. |
| 404 | Misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at death | Section 315 | Current corresponding offence. |
| 405 / 406 | Criminal breach of trust / punishment | Section 316 | Definition and punishment consolidated. |
| 415 / 417 / 420 | Cheating; punishment; inducing delivery of property | Section 318 | Different forms and punishments are contained in Section 318. |
| 416 / 419 | Cheating by personation / punishment | Section 319 | Current corresponding provision. |
| 425 / 426 | Mischief / punishment | Section 324 | Definition and punishment reorganised in one provision. |
| 441 / 442 | Criminal trespass / house-trespass | Section 329 | BNS combines criminal trespass and house-trespass. |
| 443-446 | Lurking house-trespass and house-breaking | Sections 330-333 | Reorganised into BNS provisions on house-trespass and house-breaking. |
Women, Marriage, Dowry Death, Trafficking and Sexual Offences
| Legacy IPC | IPC description | Current BNS | Current position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 304B | Dowry death | Section 80 | Dowry death under BNS. |
| 354 | Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage modesty | Section 74 | Current corresponding offence. |
| 354A | Sexual harassment | Section 75 | Current corresponding offence. |
| 354B | Assault or criminal force with intent to disrobe | Section 76 | Current corresponding offence. |
| 354C | Voyeurism | Section 77 | Current corresponding offence. |
| 354D | Stalking | Section 78 | Current corresponding offence. |
| 370 | Trafficking of person | Section 143 | Current trafficking provision. |
| 370A | Exploitation of trafficked person | Section 144 | Current corresponding offence. |
| 372 | Selling minor for prostitution, etc. | Section 98 | BNS uses child-focused terminology. |
| 373 | Buying minor for prostitution, etc. | Section 99 | BNS uses child-focused terminology. |
| 375 | Rape | Section 63 | Definition of rape. |
| 376 | Punishment for rape | Section 64 | General punishment provision. |
| 376AB | Rape of woman under 12 years | Section 65(2) | Age-specific aggravated punishment. |
| 376A | Rape causing death or persistent vegetative state | Section 66 | Current corresponding aggravated offence. |
| 376B | Sexual intercourse by husband upon wife during separation | Section 67 | Current corresponding provision. |
| 376C | Sexual intercourse by person in authority | Section 68 | Current corresponding provision. |
| 376D / 376DA / 376DB | Gang rape and aggravated child-victim forms | Section 70 | Gang rape provisions reorganised under BNS. |
| 376E | Repeat offenders | Section 71 | Current repeat-offender provision. |
| 493 | Cohabitation caused by deceitful belief of lawful marriage | Section 81 | Current corresponding provision. |
| 494 / 495 | Marrying again during spouse's lifetime / concealment | Section 82 | Bigamy and aggravated concealment addressed in Section 82. |
| 496 | Fraudulent marriage ceremony without lawful marriage | Section 83 | Current corresponding provision. |
| 498 | Enticing, taking away or detaining married woman with criminal intent | Section 84 | Current corresponding provision. |
| 498A | Cruelty by husband or relative of husband | Section 85 | Current corresponding offence. |
Hurt, Wrongful Restraint, Force, Assault and Kidnapping
| Legacy IPC | IPC description | Current BNS | Current position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 319 | Hurt | Section 114 | Definition of hurt. |
| 320 | Grievous hurt | Section 116 | Definition of grievous hurt. |
| 321 / 323 | Voluntarily causing hurt / punishment | Section 115 | Current offence and punishment. |
| 322 / 325 | Voluntarily causing grievous hurt / punishment | Section 117 | Current offence and punishment. |
| 326A / 326B | Acid attack / attempt | Section 124 | Acid-related grievous hurt and attempt dealt with in Section 124. |
| 339 / 341 | Wrongful restraint / punishment | Section 126 | Definition and punishment consolidated. |
| 340 / 342 | Wrongful confinement / punishment | Section 127 | Definition and punishment consolidated. |
| 349 | Force | Section 128 | Current definition. |
| 350 | Criminal force | Section 129 | Current definition. |
| 351 | Assault | Section 130 | Current definition. |
| 359-361 | Kidnapping; from India; from lawful guardianship | Section 137 | BNS reorganises kidnapping under Section 137. |
| 362 | Abduction | Section 138 | Current definition. |
| 364A | Kidnapping for ransom | Section 140 | Covered within aggravated kidnapping/abduction provision. |
| 366A | Procuration of minor girl | Section 96 | Current provision is framed as procuration of a child. |
Attempt, Abetment, Criminal Conspiracy and Unlawful Assembly
| Legacy IPC | IPC description | Current BNS | Current position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 107 | Abetment | Section 45 | Current definition of abetment. |
| 108 | Abettor | Section 46 | Current definition. |
| 120A / 120B | Criminal conspiracy / punishment | Section 61 | Definition and punishment consolidated. |
| 141 | Unlawful assembly | Section 189 | Current provision on unlawful assembly. |
| 149 | Liability for offence committed in prosecution of common object | Section 190 | Current corresponding principle. |
| 307 | Attempt to murder | Section 109 | Current corresponding offence. |
| 308 | Attempt to commit culpable homicide | Section 110 | Current corresponding offence. |
| 511 | General punishment for attempts | Section 62 | General attempt provision under BNS. |
Attempt to suicide: IPC Section 309 created a broad offence of attempt to suicide, though its operation had already been substantially affected by Section 115 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. BNS does not reproduce IPC 309 in the same general form. BNS Section 226 instead criminalises attempt to commit suicide when done with intent to compel or restrain a public servant from discharging official duty.
General Exceptions and Right of Private Defence
Legacy IPC Sections 76-106 contained the general exceptions and private-defence provisions. The BNS reorganises these principles primarily in Sections 14-44.
| Legacy IPC topic | Current BNS range / section | Exam point |
|---|---|---|
| Acts bound or justified by law; judicial acts; court orders; mistake of fact | Sections 14-17 | Mistake of fact may be relevant; mistake of law is not treated the same way. |
| Accident and necessity | Sections 18-19 | General exception principles retained. |
| Child below seven / immature child | Sections 20-21 | Age-based criminal incapacity retained. |
| Unsoundness of mind | Section 22 | Current general exception. |
| Intoxication | Sections 23-24 | Distinguishes involuntary intoxication and offences requiring particular intent/knowledge. |
| Consent and acts done in good faith | Sections 25-30 | Consent-related exceptions reorganised. |
| Compulsion by threats / slight harm | Sections 32-33 | Corresponding general-exception principles. |
| Right of private defence | Sections 34-44 | Defence of body and property, limits, commencement and extent. |
Defamation, Criminal Intimidation and Public Misconduct
| Legacy IPC | IPC description | Current BNS | Current position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 499 / 500 | Defamation / punishment | Section 356 | Criminal defamation is retained under BNS. |
| 503 / 506 | Criminal intimidation / punishment | Section 351 | Definition and punishment reorganised in Section 351. |
| 510 | Misconduct in public by drunken person | Section 355 | Current corresponding offence. |
Important IPC Provisions with No Direct Current BNS Equivalent
IPC Section 497 - Adultery
The Supreme Court in Joseph Shine v. Union of India (2018) struck down IPC Section 497 as unconstitutional. Adultery may remain relevant in matrimonial law, but it is not a criminal offence under the BNS.
IPC Section 377 - “Unnatural offences”
In Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018), the Supreme Court held that IPC Section 377 could not criminalise consensual sexual acts between adults in private. The BNS does not reproduce IPC Section 377 as a direct equivalent. Other non-consensual or harmful conduct may be governed by other penal provisions depending on the facts.
IPC Section 309 - Attempt to suicide
The broad IPC offence is not reproduced in the same form. The current BNS provision is much narrower, as explained above.
Fast LLB Entrance Revision
- BNS effective date: 1 July 2024, except Section 106(2) under the original commencement notification.
- Theft: BNS 303.
- Extortion: BNS 308.
- Robbery: BNS 309.
- Dacoity: BNS 310.
- Criminal breach of trust: BNS 316.
- Cheating: BNS 318.
- Rape: BNS 63; punishment generally BNS 64.
- Dowry death: BNS 80.
- Cruelty by husband/relative: BNS 85.
- Hurt / grievous hurt: BNS 114 / 116.
- Force / criminal force / assault: BNS 128 / 129 / 130.
- Kidnapping / abduction: BNS 137 / 138.
- Criminal conspiracy: BNS 61.
- Unlawful assembly / common object: BNS 189 / 190.
- Defamation: BNS 356.
- Criminal intimidation: BNS 351.