Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Act No. 45 of 2023 · in force from 1 July 2024 · 358 sections in 20 chapters. Every section below links to its verbatim text. Search it in plain words on AskBNS.
Chapter I: Preliminary
Chapter II: Of Punishments
- BNS4 Punishments
- BNS5 Commutation of sentence
- BNS6 Fractions of terms of punishment
- BNS7 Sentence may be (in certain cases of imprisonment) wholly or partly rigorous or simple
- BNS8 Amount of fine, liability in default of payment of fine, etc
- BNS9 Limit of punishment of offence made up of several offences
- BNS10 Punishment of person guilty of one of several offences, judgment stating that it is doubtful of which
- BNS11 Solitary confinement
- BNS12 Limit of solitary confinement
- BNS13 Enhanced punishment for certain offences after previous conviction
Chapter III: General Exceptions
- BNS14 Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by law
- BNS15 Act of Judge when acting judicially
- BNS16 Act done pursuant to judgment or order of Court
- BNS17 Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law
- BNS18 Accident in doing a lawful act
- BNS19 Act likely to cause harm, but done without criminal intent, and to prevent other harm
- BNS20 Act of a child under seven years of age
- BNS21 Act of a child above seven and under twelve years of age of immature understanding
- BNS22 Act of a person of unsound mind
- BNS23 Act of a person incapable of judgment by reason of intoxication caused against his will
- BNS24 Offence requiring a particular intent or knowledge committed by one who is intoxicated
- BNS25 Act not intended and not known to be likely to cause death or grievous hurt, done by consent
- BNS26 Act not intended to cause death, done by consent in good faith for person’s benefit
- BNS27 Act done in good faith for benefit of child or person of unsound mind, by, or by consent of guardian
- BNS28 Consent known to be given under fear or misconception
- BNS29 Exclusion of acts which are offences independently of harm caused
- BNS30 Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent
- BNS31 Communication made in good faith
- BNS32 Act to which a person is compelled by threats
- BNS33 Act causing slight harm
- BNS34 Things done in private defence
- BNS35 Right of private defence of body and of property
- BNS36 Right of private defence against act of a person of unsound mind, etc
- BNS37 Acts against which there is no right of private defence
- BNS38 When right of private defence of body extends to causing death
- BNS39 When such right extends to causing any harm other than death
- BNS40 Commencement and continuance of right of private defence of body
- BNS41 When right of private defence of property extends to causing death
- BNS42 When such right extends to causing any harm other than death
- BNS43 Commencement and continuance of right of private defence of property
- BNS44 Right of private defence against deadly assault when there is risk of harm to innocent person
Chapter IV: Of Abetment, Criminal Conspiracy and Attempt
- BNS45 Abetment of a thing
- BNS46 Abettor
- BNS47 Abetment in India of offences outside India
- BNS48 Abetment outside India for offence in India
- BNS49 Punishment of abetment if act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment
- BNS50 Punishment of abetment if person abetted does act with different intention from that of abettor
- BNS51 Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done
- BNS52 Abettor when liable to cumulative punishment for act abetted and for act done
- BNS53 Liability of abettor for an effect caused by act abetted different from that intended by abettor
- BNS54 Abettor present when offence is committed
- BNS55 Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
- BNS56 Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment
- BNS57 Abetting commission of offence by public or by more than ten persons
- BNS58 Concealing design to commit offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
- BNS59 Public servant concealing design to commit offence which it is his duty to prevent
- BNS60 Concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
- BNS61 Criminal conspiracy
- BNS62 Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment
Chapter V: Of Offences Against Woman and Child
- BNS63 Rape
- BNS64 Punishment for rape
- BNS65 Punishment for rape in certain cases
- BNS66 Punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim
- BNS67 Sexual intercourse by husband upon his wife during separation
- BNS68 Sexual intercourse by a person in authority
- BNS69 Sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means, etc
- BNS70 Gang rape
- BNS71 Punishment for repeat offenders
- BNS72 Disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences, etc
- BNS73 Printing or publishing any matter relating to Court proceedings without permission
- BNS74 Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty
- BNS75 Sexual harassment
- BNS76 Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe
- BNS77 Voyeurism
- BNS78 Stalking
- BNS79 Word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman
- BNS80 Dowry death
- BNS81 Cohabitation caused by man deceitfully inducing belief of lawful marriage
- BNS82 Marrying again during lifetime of husband or wife
- BNS83 Marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage
- BNS84 Enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married woman
- BNS85 Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty
- BNS86 Cruelty defined
- BNS87 Kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc
- BNS88 Causing miscarriage
- BNS89 Causing miscarriage without woman’s consent
- BNS90 Death caused by act done with intent to cause miscarriage
- BNS91 Act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to cause to die after birth
- BNS92 Causing death of quick unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide
- BNS93 Exposure and abandonment of child under twelve years of age, by parent or person having care of it
- BNS94 Concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body
- BNS95 Hiring, employing or engaging a child to commit an offence
- BNS96 Procuration of child
- BNS97 Kidnapping or abducting child under ten years of age with intent to steal from its person
- BNS98 Selling child for purposes of prostitution, etc
- BNS99 Buying child for purposes of prostitution, etc
Chapter VI: Of Offences Affecting the Human Body
- BNS100 Culpable homicide
- BNS101 Murder
- BNS102 Culpable homicide by causing death of person other than person whose death was intended
- BNS103 Punishment for murder
- BNS104 Punishment for murder by life-convict
- BNS105 Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder
- BNS106 Causing death by negligence
- BNS107 Abetment of suicide of child or person of unsound mind
- BNS108 Abetment of suicide
- BNS109 Attempt to murder
- BNS110 Attempt to commit culpable homicide
- BNS111 Organised crime
- BNS112 Petty organised crime
- BNS113 Terrorist act
- BNS114 Hurt
- BNS115 Voluntarily causing hurt
- BNS116 Grievous hurt
- BNS117 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt
- BNS118 Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means
- BNS119 Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act
- BNS120 Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to extort confession, or to compel restoration of property
- BNS121 Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty
- BNS122 Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt on provocation
- BNS123 Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence
- BNS124 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc
- BNS125 Act endangering life or personal safety of others
- BNS126 Wrongful restraint
- BNS127 Wrongful confinement
- BNS128 Force
- BNS129 Criminal force
- BNS130 Assault
- BNS131 Punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation
- BNS132 Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty
- BNS133 Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation
- BNS134 Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person
- BNS135 Assault or criminal force in attempt to wrongfully confine a person
- BNS136 Assault or criminal force on grave provocation
- BNS137 Kidnapping
- BNS138 Abduction
- BNS139 Kidnapping or maiming a child for purposes of begging
- BNS140 Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder or for ransom, etc
- BNS141 Importation of girl or boy from foreign country
- BNS142 Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person
- BNS143 Trafficking of person
- BNS144 Exploitation of a trafficked person
- BNS145 Habitual dealing in slaves
- BNS146 Unlawful compulsory labour
Chapter VII: Of Offences Against the State
- BNS147 Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against Government of India
- BNS148 Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 147
- BNS149 Collecting arms, etc., with intention of waging war against Government of India
- BNS150 Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war
- BNS151 Assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain exercise of any lawful power
- BNS152 Act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India
- BNS153 Waging war against Government of any foreign State at peace with Government of India
- BNS154 Committing depredation on territories of foreign State at peace with Government of India
- BNS155 Receiving property taken by war or depredation mentioned in sections 153 and 154
- BNS156 Public servant voluntarily allowing prisoner of State or war to escape
- BNS157 Public servant negligently suffering such prisoner to escape
- BNS158 Aiding escape of, rescuing or harbouring such prisoner
Chapter VIII: Of Offences Relating to the Army, Navy and Air Force
- BNS159 Abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty
- BNS160 Abetment of mutiny, if mutiny is committed in consequence thereof
- BNS161 Abetment of assault by soldier, sailor or airman on his superior officer, when in execution of his office
- BNS162 Abetment of such assault, if assault committed
- BNS163 Abetment of desertion of soldier, sailor or airman
- BNS164 Harbouring deserter
- BNS165 Deserter concealed on board merchant vessel through negligence of master
- BNS166 Abetment of act of insubordination by soldier, sailor or airman
- BNS167 Persons subject to certain Acts
- BNS168 Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman
Chapter IX: Of Offences Relating to Elections
- BNS169 Candidate, electoral right defined
- BNS170 Bribery
- BNS171 Undue influence at elections
- BNS172 Personation at elections
- BNS173 Punishment for bribery
- BNS174 Punishment for undue influence or personation at an election
- BNS175 False statement in connection with an election
- BNS176 Illegal payments in connection with an election
- BNS177 Failure to keep election accounts
Chapter X: Of Offences Relating to Coin, Currency-Notes, Bank-Notes and Government Stamps
- BNS178 Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes
- BNS179 Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank- notes
- BNS180 Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank- notes
- BNS181 Making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
- BNS182 Making or using documents resembling currency-notes or bank-notes
- BNS183 Effacing writing from substance bearing Government stamp, or removing from document a stamp used for it, with intent to cause loss to Government
- BNS184 Using Government stamp known to have been before used
- BNS185 Erasure of mark denoting that stamp has been used
- BNS186 Prohibition of fictitious stamps
- BNS187 Person employed in mint causing coin to be of different weight or composition from that fixed by law
- BNS188 Unlawfully taking coining instrument from mint
Chapter XI: Of Offences Against the Public Tranquillity
- BNS189 Unlawful assembly
- BNS190 Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object
- BNS191 Rioting
- BNS192 Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot-if rioting be committed; if not committed
- BNS193 Liability of owner, occupier, etc., of land on which an unlawful assembly or riot takes place
- BNS194 Affray
- BNS195 Assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot, etc
- BNS196 Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony
- BNS197 Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration
Chapter XII: Of Offences by or Relating to Public Servants
- BNS198 Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person
- BNS199 Public servant disobeying direction under law
- BNS200 Punishment for non-treatment of victim
- BNS201 Public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury
- BNS202 Public servant unlawfully engaging in trade
- BNS203 Public servant unlawfully buying or bidding for property
- BNS204 Personating a public servant
- BNS205 Wearing garb or carrying token used by public servant with fraudulent intent
Chapter XIII: Of Contempts of the Lawful Authority of Public Servants
- BNS206 Absconding to avoid service of summons or other proceeding
- BNS207 Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof
- BNS208 Non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant
- BNS209 Non-appearance in response to a proclamation under section 84 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
- BNS210 Omission to produce document or electronic record to public servant by person legally bound to produce it
- BNS211 Omission to give notice or information to public servant by person legally bound to give it
- BNS212 Furnishing false information
- BNS213 Refusing oath or affirmation when duly required by public servant to make it
- BNS214 Refusing to answer public servant authorised to question
- BNS215 Refusing to sign statement
- BNS216 False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorised to administer an oath or affirmation
- BNS217 False information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to injury of another person
- BNS218 Resistance to taking of property by lawful authority of a public servant
- BNS219 Obstructing sale of property offered for sale by authority of public servant
- BNS220 Illegal purchase or bid for property offered for sale by authority of public servant
- BNS221 Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions
- BNS222 Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance
- BNS223 Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant
- BNS224 Threat of injury to public servant
- BNS225 Threat of injury to induce person to refrain from applying for protection to public servant
- BNS226 Attempt to commit suicide to compel or restrain exercise of lawful power
Chapter XIV: Of False Evidence and Offences Against Public Justice
- BNS227 Giving false evidence
- BNS228 Fabricating false evidence
- BNS229 Punishment for false evidence
- BNS230 Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence
- BNS231 Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of offence punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment
- BNS232 Threatening any person to give false evidence
- BNS233 Using evidence known to be false
- BNS234 Issuing or signing false certificate
- BNS235 Using as true a certificate known to be false
- BNS236 False statement made in declaration which is by law receivable as evidence
- BNS237 Using as true such declaration knowing it to be false
- BNS238 Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender
- BNS239 Intentional omission to give information of offence by person bound to inform
- BNS240 Giving false information respecting an offence committed
- BNS241 Destruction of document or electronic record to prevent its production as evidence
- BNS242 False personation for purpose of act or proceeding in suit or prosecution
- BNS243 Fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution
- BNS244 Fraudulent claim to property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution
- BNS245 Fraudulently suffering decree for sum not due
- BNS246 Dishonestly making false claim in Court
- BNS247 Fraudulently obtaining decree for sum not due
- BNS248 False charge of offence made with intent to injure
- BNS249 Harbouring offender
- BNS250 Taking gift, etc., to screen an offender from punishment
- BNS251 Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender
- BNS252 Taking gift to help to recover stolen property, etc
- BNS253 Harbouring offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been ordered
- BNS254 Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits
- BNS255 —Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture
- BNS256 Public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture
- BNS257 Public servant in judicial proceeding corruptly making report, etc., contrary to law
- BNS258 Commitment for trial or confinement by person having authority who knows that he is acting contrary to law
- BNS259 Intentional omission to apprehend on part of public servant bound to apprehend
- BNS260 Intentional omission to apprehend on part of public servant bound to apprehend person under sentence or lawfully committed
- BNS261 Escape from confinement or custody negligently suffered by public servant
- BNS262 Resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension
- BNS263 Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension of another person
- BNS264 Omission to apprehend, or sufferance of escape, on part of public servant, in cases not otherwise provided for
- BNS265 Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension or escape or rescue in cases not otherwise provided for
- BNS266 Violation of condition of remission of punishment
- BNS267 Intentional insult or interruption to public servant sitting in judicial proceeding
- BNS268 Personation of assessor
- BNS269 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
- BNS270 Public nuisance
- BNS271 Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life
- BNS272 Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life
- BNS273 Disobedience to quarantine rule
- BNS274 Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale
- BNS275 Sale of noxious food or drink
- BNS276 Adulteration of drugs
- BNS277 Sale of adulterated drugs
- BNS278 Sale of drug as a different drug or preparation
- BNS279 Fouling water of public spring or reservoir
- BNS280 Making atmosphere noxious to health
- BNS281 Rash driving or riding on a public way
- BNS282 Rash navigation of vessel
- BNS283 Exhibition of false light, mark or buoy
- BNS284 Conveying person by water for hire in unsafe or overloaded vessel
- BNS285 Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation
- BNS286 Negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance
- BNS287 Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter
- BNS288 Negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance
- BNS289 Negligent conduct with respect to machinery
- BNS290 Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings, etc
- BNS291 Negligent conduct with respect to animal
- BNS292 Punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for
- BNS293 Continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue
- BNS294 Sale, etc., of obscene books, etc
- BNS295 Sale, etc., of obscene objects to child
- BNS296 Obscene acts and songs
- BNS297 Keeping lottery office
Chapter XVI: Of Offences Relating to Religion
- BNS298 Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult religion of any class
- BNS299 Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs
- BNS300 Disturbing religious assembly
- BNS301 Trespassing on burial places, etc
- BNS302 Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings of any person
Chapter XVII: Of Offences Against Property
- BNS303 Theft
- BNS304 Snatching
- BNS305 Theft in a dwelling house, or means of transportation or place of worship, etc
- BNS306 Theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master
- BNS307 Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to committing of theft
- BNS308 Extortion
- BNS309 Robbery
- BNS310 Dacoity
- BNS311 Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt
- BNS312 Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon
- BNS313 Punishment for belonging to gang of robbers, etc
- BNS314 Dishonest misappropriation of property
- BNS315 Dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of his death
- BNS316 Criminal breach of trust
- BNS317 Stolen property
- BNS318 Cheating
- BNS319 Cheating by personation
- BNS320 Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent distribution among creditors
- BNS321 Dishonestly or fraudulently preventing debt being available for creditors
- BNS322 Dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement of consideration
- BNS323 Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property
- BNS324 Mischief
- BNS325 Mischief by killing or maiming animal
- BNS326 Mischief by injury, inundation, fire or explosive substance, etc
- BNS327 Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a rail, aircraft, decked vessel or one of twenty tons burden
- BNS328 Punishment for intentionally running vessel aground or ashore with intent to commit theft, etc
- BNS329 Criminal trespass and house-trespass
- BNS330 House-trespass and house-breaking
- BNS331 Punishment for house-trespass or house-breaking
- BNS332 House-trespass in order to commit offence
- BNS333 House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint
- BNS334 Dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property
Chapter XVIII: Of Offences Relating to Documents and to Property Marks
- BNS335 Making a false document
- BNS336 Forgery
- BNS337 Forgery of record of Court or of public register, etc
- BNS338 Forgery of valuable security, will, etc
- BNS339 Having possession of document described in section 337 or section 338, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it as genuine
- BNS340 Forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine
- BNS341 Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable under section 338
- BNS342 Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 338, or possessing counterfeit marked material
- BNS343 Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security
- BNS344 Falsification of accounts
- BNS345 Property mark
- BNS346 Tampering with property mark with intent to cause injury
- BNS347 Counterfeiting a property mark
- BNS348 Making or possession of any instrument for counterfeiting a property mark
- BNS349 Selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark
- BNS350 Making a false mark upon any receptacle containing goods
Chapter XIX: Of Criminal Intimidation, Insult, Annoyance, Defamation, etc.
- BNS351 Criminal intimidation
- BNS352 Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace
- BNS353 Statements conducing to public mischief
- BNS354 Act caused by inducing person to believe that he will be rendered an object of Divine displeasure
- BNS355 Misconduct in public by a drunken person
- BNS356 Defamation
- BNS357 Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person