Sample Read
© Taxmann Price : ` 325
Law stated in this book is as updated till 1st December, 2025
Published by : Taxmann Publications (P.) Ltd.
Sales & Marketing : 59/32, New Rohtak Road, New Delhi-110 005 India
Phone : +91-11-45562222
Website : www.taxmann.com
E-mail : sales@taxmann.com
Regd. Office : 21/35, West Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi-110 026 India
Printed at :
Tan Prints (India) Pvt. Ltd.
44 Km. Mile Stone, National Highway, Rohtak Road Village Rohad, Distt. Jhajjar (Haryana) India
E-mail : sales@tanprints.com
Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to avoid errors or omissions in this publication. In spite of this, errors may creep in. Any mistake, error or discrepancy noted may be brought to our notice which shall be taken care of in the next edition. It is notified that neither the publisher nor the author or seller will be responsible for any damage or loss of action to any one, of any kind, in any manner, therefrom. It is suggested that to avoid any doubt the reader should cross-check all the facts, law and contents of the publication with original Government publication or notifications.
No part of this book may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means [graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information retrieval systems] or reproduced on any disc, tape, perforated media or other information storage device, etc., without the written permission of the publishers. Breach of this condition is liable for legal action.
For binding mistake, misprints or for missing pages, etc., the publisher’s liability is limited to replacement within seven days of purchase by similar edition. All expenses in this connection are to be borne by the purchaser. All disputes are subject to Delhi jurisdiction only.
CONTENTS
Ta b le s howing sections of In d ian Penal Code , 1 8 60 an d corresponding sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 I-7
Table showing sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and corresponding sections of Indian Penal Code, 1860 I-45
Table showing new sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 I-81
Table showing sections of Indian Penal Code, 1860 repealed by Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 I-83
Section Key to Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 I-85
Alphabetical Key to Comparative Study of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) & Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) I-107
Comparative Study of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ( BNS ) & Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) I-121
Guide to Punishment for O ences under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 I-157
Arrangement of sections 1
Text of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 19
Statement of Objects and Reasons 197
Notes on Clauses 199
246th Report on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 - Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home A airs - Observations/ Recommendations - At a glance 233
Speech of Honourable Minister of Home A airs and Minister of Cooperation (Shri Amit Shah) in Lok Sabha on 20-12-2023 243
Appendix : Provisions of other Acts Referred to in Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 245
SAMPLE CHAPTER
BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023 [45 OF 2023]
An Act to consolidate and amend the provisions relating to offences and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-fourth Year of the Republic of India as follows:––
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
Short title, commencement and application.
1. (1) This Act may be called the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Corresponding Provision : Section 1 of IPC, 1860
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by noti cation in the Of cial Gazette†, appoint, and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Sanhita.
Corresponding Provision : Section 1 of IPC, 1860
(3) Every person shall be liable to punishment under this Sanhita and not otherwise for every act or omission contrary to the provisions thereof, of which he shall be guilty within India.
Corresponding Provision : Section 2 of IPC, 1860
(4) Any person liable, by any law for the time being in force in India, to be tried for an offence committed beyond India shall be dealt with according to the provisions of this Sanhita for any act committed beyond India in the same manner as if such act had been committed within India.
Corresponding Provision : Section 3 of IPC, 1860
(5) The provisions of this Sanhita shall also apply to any offence committed by—
(a) any citizen of India in any place without and beyond India;
(
(
b) any person on any ship or aircraft registered in India wherever it may be;
c) any person in any place without and beyond India committing offence targeting a computer resource located in India.
† Noti cation No. S.O. 850(E), dated 23-2-2024 - In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023), the Central Government hereby appoints the 1st day of July, 2024 as the date on which the provisions of the said Sanhita, except the provision of sub-section (2) of section 106, shall come into force.
S. 2
BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023
Explanation.—In this section, the word “offence” includes every act committed outside India which, if committed in India, would be punishable under this Sanhita.
Illustration
A, who is a citizen of India, commits a murder in any place without and beyond India. He can be tried and convicted of murder in any place in India in which he may be found.
Corresponding Provision : Section 4 of IPC, 1860
(6) Nothing in this Sanhita shall affect the provisions of any Act for punishing mutiny and desertion of of cers, soldiers, sailors or airmen in the service of the Government of India or the provisions of any special or local law.
Corresponding Provision : Section 5 of IPC, 1860 De nitions.
2. In this Sanhita, unless the context otherwise requires,––
(1) “act” denotes as well a series of acts as a single act;
Corresponding Provision : Sections 32 and 33 of IPC, 1860
(2) “animal” means any living creature, other than a human being;
Corresponding Provision : Section 47 of IPC, 1860
(3) “child” means any person below the age of eighteen years;
(4) “counterfeit”.––A person is said to “counterfeit” who causes one thing to resemble another thing, intending by means of that resemblance to practise deception, or knowing it to be likely that deception will thereby be practised.
Explanation 1.—It is not essential to counterfeiting that the imitation should be exact.
Explanation 2.—When a person causes one thing to resemble another thing, and the resemblance is such that a person might be deceived thereby, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the person so causing the one thing to resemble the other thing intended by means of that resemblance to practise deception or knew it to be likely that deception would thereby be practised;
Corresponding Provision : Section 28 of IPC, 1860
(5) “Court” means a Judge who is empowered by law to act judicially alone, or a body of Judges which is empowered by law to act judicially as a body, when such Judge or body of Judges is acting judicially;
Corresponding Provision : Section 20 of IPC, 1860
(6) “death” means the death of a human being unless the contrary appears from the context;
Corresponding Provision : Section 46 of IPC, 1860
(7) “dishonestly” means doing anything with the intention of causing wrongful gain to one person or wrongful loss to another person;
Corresponding Provision : Section 24 of IPC, 1860
(8) “document” means any matter expressed or described upon any substance by means of letters, gures or marks, or by more than one of those means, and includes electronic and digital record, intended to be used, or which may be used, as evidence of that matter.
Explanation 1.—It is immaterial by what means or upon what substance the letters, gures or marks are formed, or whether the evidence is intended for, or may be used in a Court or not.
Illustrations
(a) A writing expressing the terms of a contract, which may be used as evidence of the contract, is a document.
(b) A cheque upon a banker is a document.
(c) A power-of-attorney is a document.
(d) A map or plan which is intended to be used or which may be used as evidence, is a document.
(e) A writing containing directions or instructions is a document.
Explanation 2. Whatever is expressed by means of letters, gures or marks as explained by mercantile or other usage, shall be deemed to be expressed by such letters, gures or marks within the meaning of this section, although the same may not be actually expressed.
Illustration
A writes his name on the back of a bill of exchange payable to his order. The meaning of the endorsement, as explained by mercantile usage, is that the bill is to be paid to the holder. The endorsement is a document, and shall be construed in the same manner as if the words “pay to the holder” or words to that effect had been written over the signature;
Corresponding Provision : Section 29 of IPC, 1860
(9) “fraudulently” means doing anything with the intention to defraud but not otherwise;
Corresponding Provision : Section 25 of IPC, 1860
(10) “gender”.—The pronoun “he” and its derivatives are used of any person, whether male, female or transgender.
Explanation.–– “transgender” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (k) of section 2* of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 (40 of 2019);
Corresponding Provision : Section 8 of IPC, 1860
(11) “good faith”.—Nothing is said to be done or believed in “good faith” which is done or believed without due care and attention;
Corresponding Provision : Section 52 of IPC, 1860
* For text of section 2(k) of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, see Appendix.
S.
2
BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023
(12) “Government” means the Central Government or a State Government;
Corresponding Provision : Section 17 of IPC, 1860
(13) “harbour” includes supplying a person with shelter, food, drink, money, clothes, arms, ammunition or means of conveyance, or the assisting a person by any means, whether of the same kind as those enumerated in this clause or not, to evade apprehension;
Corresponding Provision : Section 52A of IPC, 1860
(14) “injury” means any harm whatever illegally caused to any person, in body, mind, reputation or property;
Corresponding Provision : Section 44 of IPC, 1860
(15) “illegal” and “legally bound to do”.—The word “illegal” is applicable to everything which is an offence or which is prohibited by law, or which furnishes ground for a civil action; and a person is said to be “legally bound to do” whatever it is illegal in him to omit;
Corresponding Provision : Section 43 of IPC, 1860
(16) “Judge” means a person who is of cially designated as a Judge and includes a person,––
(i) who is empowered by law to give, in any legal proceeding, civil or criminal, a de nitive judgment, or a judgment which, if not appealed against, would be de nitive, or a judgment which, if con rmed by some other authority, would be de nitive; or
(ii) who is one of a body or persons, which body of persons is empowered by law to give such a judgment.
Illustration
A Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in respect of a charge on which he has power to sentence to ne or imprisonment, with or without appeal, is a Judge;
Corresponding Provision : Section 19 of IPC, 1860
(17) “life” means the life of a human being, unless the contrary appears from the context;
Corresponding Provision : Section 45 of IPC, 1860
(18) “local law” means a law applicable only to a particular part of India;
Corresponding Provision : Section 42 of IPC, 1860
(19) “man” means male human being of any age;
Corresponding Provision : Section 10 of IPC, 1860
(20) “month” and “year”.––Wherever the word “month” or the word “year” is used, it is to be understood that the month or the year is to be reckoned according to the Gregorian calendar;
Corresponding Provision : Section 49 of IPC, 1860
BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA 2023 –BARE ACT
AUTHOR : Taxmann's Editorial Board
PUBLISHER : Taxmann
DATE OF PUBLICATION : December 2025
EDITION : 2026 Edition
ISBN NO : 9789371267588
NO. OF PAGES : 460
BINDING TYPE : Paperback
DESCRIPTION
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 [Bare Act] by Taxmann is a comprehensive, updated, and affordably priced statutory publication presenting the complete text of India's new substantive criminal law. Enacted as a replacement for the Indian Penal Code 1860, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 modernises India's criminal justice framework by restructuring offences, punishments, and key principles of criminal liability. This 2026 Edition reproduces the verbatim text of the Act as enacted and in force, while maintaining a strong balance between statutory accuracy and practical usability. To keep the book economical and widely accessible, section-wise notes and extended commentary have been excluded. At the same time, essential comparative tables, comparative study aids, punishment guides, and legislative background materials have been retained to support transition and reference needs.
This book is intended for the following audience:
• Law Students & Competitive Examination Aspirants
• Advocates & Criminal Law Practitioners
• Judges & Judicial Officers
• Police Officers, Prosecutors & Investigating Agencies
• Government Departments, Police Academies & Training Institutions
• Libraries & Public Institutions
The Present Publication is the 2026 Edition, covering the amended and updated text of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita [Act No. 45 of 2023], with the following noteworthy features:
• [Complete Bare Act Text] Full verbatim text with accurate section numbering and statutory language
• [Affordability-driven Design] Section notes/commentary excluded to control pagination and keep price low
• [Comparative Study – BNS 2023 & IPC 1860] Dedicated comparative material for correspon dence and key differences
• [IPC–BNS Correlation Table] IPC sections mapped to corresponding BNS provisions
• [BNS–IPC Correlation Table] Reverse mapping of BNS sections to IPC
• [Table of New Sections in BNS] Identifies newly introduced provisions
• [Table of IPC Sections Repealed] Lists IPC provisions omitted/repealed under BNS
• [Guide to Punishment] Quick-reference punishment guide for offences under BNS
• [Section Key to BNS 2023] Fast navigation and identification of provisions
• [Alphabetical Key to Comparative Study] Subject-wise quick lookup across comparative tools
• [Legislative Background Material] Includes Statement of Objects and Reasons, Notes on Clauses, and allied legislative references
• [User-friendly Layout] Clear formatting for reading, citation, and classroom/courtroom use
