Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

The short title, the key definitions (such as “document”, “electronic record” and “public servant”) and rules for how to read the Sanhita, including where it applies and its reach to acts committed outside India in some cases.

All sections in this chapter

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

The kinds of punishment the Sanhita can impose, including death, life imprisonment, rigorous or simple imprisonment, fine and community service, with rules on how sentences and fines operate.

Key sections explained

• BNS 4. Punishments.
  Lists the kinds of punishment, including death, life imprisonment, rigorous or simple imprisonment, fine and community service.

All sections in this chapter

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

Situations where an act is not an offence, for example acts of a very young child, a person of unsound mind or someone acting by accident or mistake, and the right of private defence of body and property.

Key sections explained

• BNS 20. Act of a child under seven years of age.
  A child under seven years cannot commit an offence. Section 21 covers a child aged seven to twelve who has not reached enough maturity to understand the nature and consequences of the conduct.
• BNS 22. Act of a person of unsound mind.
  A person who, because of unsoundness of mind, cannot understand the nature of the act or that it is wrong or against the law, does not commit an offence.
• BNS 35. Right of private defence of body and of property.
  The right of private defence of the body and of property, subject to the limits in Section 37. Section 38 explains when this right can extend to causing death.

All sections in this chapter

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

When a person can be punished for helping or encouraging an offence (abetment), for agreeing with others to commit one (criminal conspiracy) and for attempting an offence.

Key sections explained

• BNS 45. Abetment of a thing.
  Defines abetment: instigating a person, joining a conspiracy to do the act, or intentionally helping it.Earlier law: IPC 107
• BNS 61. Criminal conspiracy.
  Criminal conspiracy: an agreement between two or more persons to do an illegal act, or a legal act by illegal means.Earlier law: IPC 120A, 120B
• BNS 62. Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment.
  Punishes attempt to commit an offence punishable with imprisonment, where the Sanhita does not give a separate punishment for the attempt.Earlier law: IPC 511

All sections in this chapter

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

Sexual offences and offences against women and children, including rape, gang rape, sexual intercourse by deceitful means, sexual harassment, stalking, dowry death, cruelty by a husband or his relatives, and offences such as selling a child.

Key sections explained

• BNS 63. Rape.
  Defines rape and the acts that amount to it.Earlier law: IPC 375
• BNS 64. Punishment for rape.Earlier law: IPC 376
• BNS 69. Sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means, etc.
  Makes it an offence to have sexual intercourse by deceitful means or with a false promise to marry, where it is not rape. “Deceitful means” includes a false promise of a job or promotion or marrying by hiding identity. This is a new offence.Earlier law: No IPC equivalent
• BNS 74. Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty.
  Assault or criminal force against a woman intending to outrage her modesty. The minimum term is one year.Earlier law: IPC 354
• BNS 75. Sexual harassment.
  Sexual harassment, including unwelcome physical contact, demands for sexual favours and showing pornography against a woman’s will.Earlier law: IPC 354A
• BNS 78. Stalking.
  Stalking: repeatedly following a woman or contacting her despite clear disinterest, or monitoring her use of the internet or email. There are exceptions, for example for crime prevention.Earlier law: IPC 354D
• BNS 80. Dowry death.
  Dowry death: the death of a woman within seven years of marriage, not under normal circumstances, where she was subjected to cruelty or harassment for dowry soon before her death.Earlier law: IPC 304B
• BNS 85. Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty.
  Cruelty by the husband or his relative towards a woman.Earlier law: IPC 498A

All sections in this chapter

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

Offences that affect the human body: culpable homicide and murder, abetment of suicide, attempt to murder, organised crime and terrorist acts, hurt and grievous hurt, wrongful restraint and confinement, criminal force and assault, kidnapping and unlawful compulsory labour.

Key sections explained

• BNS 100. Culpable homicide.
  Defines culpable homicide: causing death with the intention to cause death or bodily injury likely to cause death, or with knowledge that death is likely.Earlier law: IPC 299
• BNS 101. Murder.
  Defines murder, which is culpable homicide that falls within the listed circumstances, subject to the exceptions.Earlier law: IPC 300
• BNS 103. Punishment for murder.
  Sub-section (2) adds a provision for murder by a group of five or more persons on certain grounds.Earlier law: IPC 302
• BNS 105. Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.Earlier law: IPC 304
• BNS 106. Causing death by negligence.Earlier law: IPC 304A
• BNS 108. Abetment of suicide.Earlier law: IPC 306
• BNS 109. Attempt to murder.Earlier law: IPC 307
• BNS 111. Organised crime.
  Defines and punishes organised crime: continuing unlawful activity by a group or syndicate, using violence, threats or coercion to gain a benefit. This is a new offence.Earlier law: No IPC equivalent
• BNS 113. Terrorist act.
  Defines and punishes a terrorist act: an act intended to threaten the unity, integrity, sovereignty or security of India or to strike terror. This is a new offence in the BNS.Earlier law: No IPC equivalent
• BNS 115. Voluntarily causing hurt.
  Sub-section (2) is the basic punishment.Earlier law: IPC 323
• BNS 126. Wrongful restraint.
  Wrongful restraint: voluntarily obstructing a person from going where they have a right to go.Earlier law: IPC 339
• BNS 137. Kidnapping.
  Kidnapping, of two kinds: from India and from lawful guardianship.Earlier law: IPC 359 to 361

All sections in this chapter

• 100. Culpable homicide.
• 101. Murder.
• 102. Culpable homicide by causing death of person other than person whose death was intended.
• 103. Punishment for murder.
• 104. Punishment for murder by life-convict.
• 105. Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
• 106. Causing death by negligence.
• 107. Abetment of suicide of child or person of unsound mind.
• 108. Abetment of suicide.
• 109. Attempt to murder.
• 110. Attempt to commit culpable homicide.
• 111. Organised crime.
• 112. Petty organised crime.
• 113. Terrorist act.
• 114. Hurt.
• 115. Voluntarily causing hurt.
• 116. Grievous hurt.
• 117. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
• 118. Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means.
• 119. Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act.
• 120. Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to extort confession, or to compel restoration of property.
• 121. Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty.
• 122. Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt on provocation.
• 123. Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence.
• 124. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc.
• 125. Act endangering life or personal safety of others. f
• 126. Wrongful restraint.
• 127. Wrongful confinement.
• 128. Force.
• 129. Criminal force.
• 130. Assault.
• 131. Punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation.
• 132. Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty.
• 133. Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation.
• 134. Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person.
• 135. Assault or criminal force in attempt to wrongfully confine a person.
• 136. Assault or criminal force on grave provocation.
• 137. Kidnapping.
• 138. Abduction.
• 139. Kidnapping or maiming a child for purposes of begging.
• 140. Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder or for ransom, etc.
• 141. Importation of girl or boy from foreign country.
• 142. Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person.
• 143. Trafficking of person.
• 144. Exploitation of a trafficked person.
• 145. Habitual dealing in slaves.
• 146. Unlawful compulsory labour.

Offences against the State, including waging war against the Government of India and acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

Key sections explained

• BNS 152. Act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
  Acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, such as exciting secession or armed rebellion by words, signs or electronic communication. It is a different provision from the old sedition offence, not a renumbering.Earlier law: IPC 124A was not carried forward

All sections in this chapter

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

Offences connected with the Army, Navy and Air Force, such as abetting mutiny or desertion.

All sections in this chapter

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

Offences connected with elections, such as bribery, undue influence and false statements.

All sections in this chapter

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

Offences about coins, currency notes, bank notes and government stamps, such as counterfeiting.

All sections in this chapter

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

Unlawful assembly, rioting, affray, promoting enmity between groups, and imputations prejudicial to national integration.

Key sections explained

• BNS 189. Unlawful assembly.
  Unlawful assembly: an assembly of five or more persons with an unlawful common object.Earlier law: IPC 141
• BNS 191. Rioting.
  Rioting: force or violence used by an unlawful assembly or any member of it in pursuit of the common object.Earlier law: IPC 146
• BNS 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.
  Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds such as religion, race, place of birth, residence or language.Earlier law: IPC 153A

All sections in this chapter

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

Offences by public servants and offences of pretending to be a public servant.

All sections in this chapter

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

Contempt of the lawful authority of public servants, such as avoiding summons, disobeying orders or threatening a public servant.

All sections in this chapter

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

False evidence and offences against public justice, such as giving or fabricating false evidence and failing to appear after release on bail.

All sections in this chapter

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

Offences affecting public health, safety, convenience, decency and morals, such as public nuisance, spreading infection, adulteration of food and obscene acts.

All sections in this chapter

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

Offences relating to religion, such as damaging a place of worship and deliberately outraging religious feelings.

All sections in this chapter

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

Offences against property: theft, snatching, extortion, robbery, dacoity, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, cheating, mischief and criminal trespass.

Key sections explained

• BNS 303. Theft.Earlier law: IPC 378
• BNS 304. Snatching.
  Snatching: theft by suddenly or forcibly seizing or taking property from a person. It is a separate offence in the BNS.Earlier law: No IPC equivalent
• BNS 308. Extortion.
  Extortion: intentionally putting a person in fear of injury and dishonestly making them hand over property.Earlier law: IPC 383
• BNS 309. Robbery.
  Robbery: theft or extortion accompanied by death, hurt, wrongful restraint or fear of these.Earlier law: IPC 390
• BNS 310. Dacoity.
  Dacoity: robbery committed or attempted by five or more persons together.Earlier law: IPC 391
• BNS 316. Criminal breach of trust.
  Criminal breach of trust: dishonestly misappropriating or using property that has been entrusted to you.Earlier law: IPC 405
• BNS 318. Cheating.
  Cheating: deceiving a person to dishonestly induce them to hand over property or to do or not do something. Section 318(4) covers cheating that dishonestly induces delivery of property.Earlier law: IPC 415, 420
• BNS 324. Mischief. f h
  Mischief: causing wrongful loss or damage by destroying property or changing it so that its value or use is reduced.Earlier law: IPC 425
• BNS 329. Criminal trespass and house-trespass.Earlier law: IPC 441

All sections in this chapter

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

Forgery and related offences about documents and property marks.

Key sections explained

• BNS 336. Forgery.
  Forgery: making a false document or false electronic record with intent to cause damage or injury, to support a claim, or to commit fraud.Earlier law: IPC 463

All sections in this chapter

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

Criminal intimidation, insult, annoyance and defamation, and related offences.

Key sections explained

• BNS 351. Criminal intimidation.
  Criminal intimidation: threatening a person with injury to person, reputation or property to cause alarm or to make them do or omit something.Earlier law: IPC 503, 506
• BNS 356. Defamation.
  Defamation: making or publishing an imputation intended or known likely to harm a person’s reputation, subject to the exceptions.Earlier law: IPC 499

All sections in this chapter

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

Repeal of the earlier law and the provisions that save certain actions already taken.

All sections in this chapter

• 358. Repeal and savings.