Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023

Bill citation: Bill No. 173 of 2023, Introduced: 12 December 2023, Passed: 20 December 2023

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, is the criminal code of the Republic of India. It replaced the Indian Penal Code, which was enacted in 1860. BNS covers all aspects of criminal law, including offenses, punishments, defenses, and procedures.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita is subdivided into 19 chapters consisting of 356 clauses/sections. The structure of the code is similar to the Indian Penal Code. The outline of the Sanhita is as follows:

Chapters Clauses Classification of Offences
Chapter 1 Clauses 1 to 3 Preliminary
Chapter 2 Clauses 4 to 13 Of Punishments
Chapter 3 Clauses 14 to 44 General Exceptions of the Right to Private Defence (sections 34 to 44)
Chapter 4 Clauses 45 to 62 Of Abetment, Criminal Conspiracy and Attempt
Chapter 5 Clauses 63 to 99 Of Offences against Women and Children
  • Of Sexual Offences (63 to 72)
  • Of Criminal Force and Assault against Women (73 to 78)
  • Of Offences relating to Marriage (79 to 85)
  • Of the Causing of Miscarriage, etc. (86 to 97)
Chapter 6 Clauses 100 to 146 Of Offences Affecting the Human Body
  • Of Offences Affecting Life (98 to 111)
  • Of Hurt (112 to 125)
  • Of Criminal Force and Assault (126 to 134)
  • Of Kidnapping, Abduction, Slavery and Forced Labour (135 to 144)
Chapter 7 Clauses 147 to 158 Of Offences Against the State
Chapter 8 Clauses 159 to 168 Of Offences Relating to the Army, Navy and Air Force
Chapter 9 Clauses 169 to 177 Of Offences Relating to Elections
Chapter 10 Clauses 178 to 188 Of Offences Relating to Coins, Bank Notes, Currency Notes and Government Stamps
Chapter 11 Clauses 189 to 197 Of Offences Against the Public Tranquility
Chapter 12 Clauses 198 to 205 Of Offences by Or Relating to Public Servants
Chapter 13 Clauses 206 to 226 Of Contempt of Lawful Authority of Public Servants
Chapter 14 Clauses 227 to 269 Of False Evidence and Offences against Public Justice.
Chapter 15 Clauses 270 to 297 Of Offences affecting the Public Health, Safety, Convenience, Decency and Morals
Chapter 16 Clauses 298 to 302 Of Offences Relating to Religion
Chapter 17 Clauses 303 to 334 Of Offences against Property
  • Of Theft (301 to 305)
  • Of Extortion (306)
  • Of Robbery and Dacoity (307 to 311)
  • Of Criminal Misappropriation of Property (312 and 313)
  • Of Criminal Breach of Trust (314)
  • Of the Receiving of Stolen Property (315)
  • Of Cheating (316 and 317)
  • Of Fundamental Deeds and Disposition of Property (318 to 321)
  • Of Mischief (322 to 326)
  • Of Criminal Trespass (326 to 334)
Chapter 18 Clauses 335 to 350 Of Offences Relating to Documents and to Property Marks
  • Of Documents (333 to 343)
  • Of Property Marks (344 to 350)
Chapter 19 Clauses 351 to 357 Of Criminal Intimidation, Insult, Annoyance, Defamation, Etc
  • Intimidation, Insult and Annoyance (351 to 353)
  • Of Defamation (354)
  • Of breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of the helpless person (357)
Chapter 20 Clauses 358 to 358 Repeal and Savings
  • Repeal and Savings (358)

Chapters