Verified 2025 — BNS Bare Act

IPC 294 → BNS 296: Obscene Acts/Songs

IPC Section 294 (Obscene Acts/Songs) under the old Indian Penal Code 1860 is now covered under Section 296 of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, effective from 1 July 2024.

Old Law — IPC 1860

294

Obscene Acts/Songs

Obscene acts and songs in public place

New Law — BNS 2023

296

Obscene Acts/Songs

Punishment / Liability

Same - Up to 3 months

Key Change / Note

No major change

Facing a case under BNS 296?

Connect with a verified criminal lawyer for bail, FIR & defence under BNS 296.

What changed for IPC 294?

IPC 294 (Obscene Acts/Songs) — obscene acts and songs in public place — now maps to BNS Section 296. Key change: No major change. Punishment under BNS 296: Same - Up to 3 months.

IPC 294 (now BNS 296): Obscene Acts and Songs in Public

IPC Section 294 punishes obscene acts, or the singing/reciting/uttering of obscene songs or words, in or near a public place — to the annoyance of others. From 1 July 2024 it continues as Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.

Ingredients of IPC 294 / BNS 296

An obscene act, OR singing/reciting/uttering obscene words;
in or near a public place;
causing annoyance to others.

Punishment under BNS 296 (same as IPC 294)

Imprisonment up to 3 months, or fine, or both.

What changed?

Only the section number (IPC 294 → BNS 296). The ingredients and the 3-month maximum are unchanged. New FIRs cite BNS 296.

Practical notes

"Annoyance to others" is essential — without proof of annoyance in a public place, the offence is not made out; advocates frequently challenge cases on this element.
Consult a lawyer; refer to the official BNS bare act for exact wording.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the BNS equivalent of IPC Section 294?

IPC Section 294 (Obscene Acts/Songs) is now covered under Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, effective from 1 July 2024.

What is the punishment under BNS 296?

Same - Up to 3 months

What is the key difference between IPC 294 and BNS 296?

No major change

Is IPC 294 still valid in India?

No. The Indian Penal Code 1860 was repealed and replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 on 1 July 2024. The obscene acts/songs offence earlier in IPC 294 is now governed by BNS 296 — pending IPC 294 cases continue, but new FIRs cite BNS 296.