IPC ↔ BNS Quick Reference
Top 50 most-searched sections of the Indian Penal Code 1860 mapped to their Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 equivalents.
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Offences Affecting the Human Body
12 sectionsThe most consequential criminal offences — murder, culpable homicide, hurt and attempts on life. Form the bulk of trial work in sessions courts.
| IPC | BNS | Topic & Key Note |
|---|---|---|
| 299 | 100 | Culpable Homicide (definition) Wording retained; defines mens rea for homicide |
| 300 | 101 | Murder (definition) All four limbs of murder retained |
| 302 | 103 | Punishment for Murder Section renumbered; punishment unchanged |
| 304 | 105 | Culpable Homicide not amounting to murder Same structure as IPC |
| 304A | 106 | Death by Negligence Hit-and-run punishment enhanced from 2 yrs to 10 yrs |
| 304B | 80 | Dowry Death Substantially retained |
| 306 | 108 | Abetment of Suicide Same punishment as IPC |
| 307 | 109 | Attempt to Murder Organised-crime aggravation added |
| 319 | 114 | Hurt (definition) Definition retained |
| 323 | 115 | Voluntarily Causing Hurt Compoundable; fine quantum revised |
| 324 | 118 | Hurt by Dangerous Weapon Substantially same |
| 326A | 124(1) | Acid Attack causing grievous hurt Compensation for victim mandatory |
Crimes Against Women & Children
8 sectionsSexual offences, harassment, stalking, cruelty by husband — significantly strengthened in BNS with stricter punishments and clearer definitions.
| IPC | BNS | Topic & Key Note |
|---|---|---|
| 354 | 74 | Outraging Modesty of Woman Minimum punishment introduced |
| 354A | 75 | Sexual Harassment Retained from IPC |
| 354D | 78 | Stalking (including online) Cyber-stalking explicitly included |
| 375 | 63 | Rape (definition) Age of consent retained at 18 |
| 376 | 64 | Punishment for Rape Minimum enhanced from 7 to 10 yrs |
| 376D | 70 | Gang Rape Stricter than IPC |
| 377 | Removed | Unnatural OffencesRemoved Decriminalised after Navtej Singh Johar (2018); removed from BNS |
| 498A | 85 | Cruelty by Husband / Relatives Substantially retained; cognisable & non-bailable |
Offences Against Property
10 sectionsTheft, cheating, robbery, dacoity, criminal breach of trust — the backbone of property-crime jurisprudence in India.
| IPC | BNS | Topic & Key Note |
|---|---|---|
| 378 | 303(1) | Theft (definition) Definition retained |
| 379 | 303(2) | Punishment for Theft Community service added as new punishment option |
| 380 | 305 | Theft in Dwelling House Aggravated form retained |
| 384 | 308 | Extortion Substantially same |
| 392 | 309 | Robbery Same structure |
| 395 | 310 | Dacoity Same punishment |
| 406 | 316 | Criminal Breach of Trust Punishment enhanced from 3 to 5 yrs |
| 415 | 318(1) | Cheating (definition) Definition retained |
| 420 | 318(4) | Cheating + Dishonest Property Delivery Same punishment; iconic 420 now under 318 |
| 425 | 324 | Mischief Substantially same |
Offences Against the State & Public Order
6 sectionsSedition reframed, mob lynching as a separate offence, religious harmony provisions retained — the most politically debated BNS reforms.
| IPC | BNS | Topic & Key Note |
|---|---|---|
| 124A | 152 | Sedition (renamed) Reframed as 'acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India'; intent requirement clarified |
| 141 | 189(1) | Unlawful Assembly 5-or-more persons threshold retained |
| 143 | 189(2) | Punishment for Unlawful Assembly Substantially same |
| 144 | — | Joining unlawful assembly with weaponRemoved Procedural Sec 144 (curfew orders) now in BNSS Sec 163 |
| 153A | 196 | Promoting Enmity between Groups Same structure; digital media included |
| 295A | 299 | Outraging Religious Feelings Substantially retained |
Forgery & Documents
4 sectionsDocument fraud, counterfeit currency, identity forgery — electronic record forgery now explicitly recognised.
| IPC | BNS | Topic & Key Note |
|---|---|---|
| 463 | 336(1) | Forgery (definition) Includes electronic records |
| 468 | 336(3) | Forgery for purpose of Cheating Same punishment |
| 471 | 340 | Using as genuine a Forged Document Retained |
| 489A | 178 | Counterfeit Currency Notes Severe punishment retained |
Defamation, Intimidation & Insult
5 sectionsVerbal & online offences — community service introduced as a new sentencing option.
| IPC | BNS | Topic & Key Note |
|---|---|---|
| 499 | 356(1) | Defamation (definition) Definition retained |
| 500 | 356(2) | Punishment for Defamation Community service added as new option |
| 503 | 351(1) | Criminal Intimidation (definition) Includes digital threats |
| 506 | 351(2-3) | Punishment for Criminal Intimidation Substantially same |
| 509 | 79 | Word/Gesture insulting Modesty Punishment enhanced from 1 to 3 yrs |
Conspiracy, Abetment & Joint Liability
3 sectionsThe 'inchoate' offences — how Indian law catches accomplices, conspirators and joint participants in crime.
| IPC | BNS | Topic & Key Note |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | 3(5) | Common Intention (joint liability) Retained as the most-invoked liability rule |
| 120A | 61(1) | Criminal Conspiracy (definition) Retained |
| 120B | 61(2) | Punishment for Criminal Conspiracy Substantially same |
Brand-New Offences in BNS
4 sectionsOffences with NO direct IPC equivalent — added in BNS 2023 to address modern criminality (mob violence, organised crime, terrorism, snatching).
| IPC | BNS | Topic & Key Note |
|---|---|---|
| — | 103(2) | Mob Lynching (race/caste/religion)NEW NEW — specific offence for group murder on identity grounds |
| — | 111 | Organised CrimeNEW NEW — earlier only under State acts like MCOCA |
| — | 113 | Terrorism (within BNS)NEW NEW — terrorism now defined inside BNS (in addition to UAPA) |
| — | 304 | SnatchingNEW NEW — separated from theft as distinct offence |
Top 10 Key Changes in BNS 2023
- Sedition reframed: IPC 124A → BNS 152 ("acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India").
- Murder renumbered: IPC 302 → BNS 103. Death / life retained.
- Cheating renumbered: IPC 420 → BNS 318(4). Same punishment.
- Rape (376) strengthened: BNS 64 — minimum raised from 7 to 10 years; gang-rape (BNS 70) minimum 20 years.
- Cruelty (498A): Now BNS 85 — elements retained, cognisable & non-bailable.
- Mob lynching: Brand-new offence under BNS 103(2) — death or life.
- Snatching: Separated from theft as BNS 304 — up to 3 years.
- Organised crime: New offence under BNS 111 (earlier only State acts like MCOCA).
- Terrorism within BNS: Section 113 — supplementing UAPA.
- Community service: New punishment for petty offences (defamation, minor theft etc.).
Need all 575 sections?
This quick-reference chart covers the 50 most-searched sections. The complete IPC↔BNS directory (with individual deep-dive pages for every section) is free on our site.
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