The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: A Comprehensive Overview

Till the date 25^th of December, 2023, Indian Judiciary had been following the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), which was enacted by the British government in 1860. But the Parliament has passed the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and subsequently enacted in 2023 and replaced the Indian Penal Code of 1860.

What does the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 Exactly Define?

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita that is passed on 20^th (Lok Sabha) and 21^st (Rajya Sabha) of December, 2023 and subsequently assented by the Hon'ble President Droupadi Murmu on 25^th of December, 2023, is a criminal law, which is drafted based on current Indian perspective to classify and define the crimes and respective punishment.

By the time, Indian Penal Code of 1860 was the pillar of criminal law, but over period in time, the Indian societies have gone through multiple changes. Besides, the technological advancement also generated various types of crimes, which were not adequately covered under the IPC. Therefore, India judiciary was in dire need to revamp the existing IPC.

Moreover, to incorporate the societal change, technological advancements, and evolving understanding of human rights, the existing IPC was replaced by enacting more advanced and simplified law namely “the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.”

Key Features of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)

Following are some of the key features of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita −

Modernizing the Fabric of Law

Prima facie, the BNS is designed to cover a modern and relevant issues by replacing the Indian Penal Code of 1860. With the objective to enhance clarity and accessibility, the BNS streamline the respective rulings. Furthermore, this Sanhita meticulously addresses contemporary concerns such as different types of cybercrimes, organized crimes, and terrorism.

Removing the Outdated Provisions

This Sanhita substantially recognizes the changing social dynamics and hence removed all the outdated provisions like “adultery.” It clearly reflects the advancements in human rights and societal perceptions.

Reshaping the Provisions of Punishment

As punishment and penalty (usually in the form of imprisonment and fine) remain as the focal point of the criminal legal system, BNS introduced the “Community Service.” Primarily, the community service acts as an alternative sentencing option. Such progressive approach emphasizes rehabilitation and reintegration into society, offering offenders a chance to contribute positively to their communities. Furthermore, the provisions of sentencing are also simplified with the objective to maintain the consistency and proportionality in punishments across the cases.

Addressing Sensitive Issues

The Sanhita replaced the sensitive and controversial term ‘sedition’ and used a simplified language as “safeguarding national security and sovereignty,” aiming to strike a balance between protecting national interests and respecting free speech. Besides, it also attempted to expand the scope of offences that address sexual assault with the objective to provide broader protection possibility to vulnerable groups.

Concerns and Controversies

Though this BNS has attempted to cover all the aspects and left least scope to criticize; however, there are a few points that raised some concerns. Such as, the provision of solitary confinement. Many people believe that such provisions violate the basic integrity of human rights and there is possibility of misuse as well.

Structure of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

The BNS (Second) carries 358 sections spread over 20 chapters. The following table highlights chapters and sections briefly −

Chapter/Section	Content
Chapter I	Preliminary
Section 1	Short title, commencement and application.
Section 2	Definitions.
Section 3	General explanations.
Chapter II	Of Punishments
Section 4	Punishments.
Section 5	Commutation of sentence.
Section 6	Fractions of terms of punishment.
Section 7	Sentence may be (in certain cases of imprisonment) wholly or partly rigorous or simple.
Section 8	Amount of fine, liability in default of payment of fine, etc.
Section 9	Limit of punishment of offence made up of several offences.
Section 10	Punishment of person guilty of one of several offences, judgment stating that it is doubtful of which.
Section 11	Solitary confinement.
Section 12	Limit of solitary confinement.
Section 13	Enhanced punishment for certain offences after previous conviction.
Chapter III	General Exceptions
Section 14	Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by law.
Section 15	Act of Judge when acting judicially.
Section 16	Act done pursuant to judgment or order of Court.
Section 17	Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law.
Section 18	Accident in doing a lawful act.
Section 19	Act likely to cause harm, but done without criminal intent, and to prevent other harm.
Section 20	Act of a child under seven years of age.
Section 21	Act of a child above seven and under twelve years of age of immature understanding.
Section 22	Act of a person of unsound mind.
Section 23	Act of a person incapable of judgment by reason of intoxication caused against his will.
Section 24	Offence requiring a particular intent or knowledge committed by one who is intoxicated.
Section 25	Act not intended and not known to be likely to cause death or grievous hurt, done by consent.
Section 26	Act not intended to cause death, done by consent in good faith for person’s benefit.
Section 27	Act done in good faith for benefit of child or person of unsound mind, by, or by consent of guardian.
Section 28	Consent known to be given under fear or misconception.
Section 29	Exclusion of acts which are offences independently of harm caused.
Section 30	Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent.
Section 31	Communication made in good faith.
Section 32	Act to which a person is compelled by threats.
Section 33	Act causing slight harm.
	Of right of private defence
Section 34	Things done in private defence.
Section 35	Right of private defence of body and of property.
Section 36	Right of private defence against act of a person of unsound mind, etc.
Section 37	Acts against which there is no right of private defence
Section 38	When right of private defence of body extends to causing death.
Section 39	When such right extends to causing any harm other than death.
Section 40	Commencement and continuance of right of private defence of body.
Section 41	When right of private defence of property extends to causing death.
Section 42	When such right extends to causing any harm other than death.
Section 43	Commencement and continuance of right of private defence of property.
Section 44	Right of private defence against deadly assault when there is risk of harm to innocent person.
Chapter IV	Of Abetment, Criminal Conspiracy and Attempt
	Of Abetment
Section 45	Abetment of a thing.
Section 46	Abettor.
Section 47	Abetment in India of offences outside India.
Section 48	Abetment outside India for offence in India.
Section 49	Punishment of abetment if act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment.
Section 50	Punishment of abetment if person abetted does act with different intention from that of abettor.
Section 51	Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done.
Section 52	Abettor when liable to cumulative punishment for act abetted and for act done.
Section 53	Liability of abettor for an effect caused by act abetted different from that intended by abettor.
Section 54	Abettor present when offence is committed.
Section 55	Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life.
Section 56	Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment.
Section 57	Abetting commission of offence by public or by more than ten persons.
Section 58	Concealing design to commit offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life.
Section 59	Public servant concealing design to commit offence which it is his duty to prevent.
Section 60	Concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment.
	Of criminal conspiracy
Section 61	Criminal conspiracy.
	Of attempt
Section 62	Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment.
Chapter V	Of Offences Against Woman and Child
	Of sexual offences
Section 63	Rape.
Section 64	Punishment for rape.
Section 65	Punishment for rape in certain cases.
Section 66	Punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim.
Section 67	Sexual intercourse by husband upon his wife during separation.
Section 68	Sexual intercourse by a person in authority.
Section 69	Sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means, etc.
Section 70	Gang rape.
Section 71	Punishment for repeat offenders.
Section 72	Disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences, etc.
Section 73	Printing or publishing of any matter relating to Court proceedings without permission.
	Of criminal force and assault against woman
Section 74	Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty.
Section 75	Sexual harassment.
Section 76	Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe.
Section 77	Voyeurism.
Section 78	Stalking.
Section 79	Word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman.
	Of offences relating to marriage
Section 80	Dowry death
Section 81	Cohabitation caused by man deceitfully inducing belief of lawful marriage.
Section 82	Marrying again during lifetime of husband or wife.
Section 83	Marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage.
Section 84	Enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married woman.
Section 85	Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty.
Section 86	Cruelty defined.
Section 87	Kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc.
	Of causing miscarriage, etc.
Section 88	Causing miscarriage.
Section 89	Causing miscarriage without woman’s consent.
Section 90	Death caused by act done with intent to cause miscarriage.
Section 91	Act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to cause to die after birth.
Section 92	Causing death of quick unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide.
	Of offences against child
Section 93	Exposure and abandonment of child under twelve years of age, by parent or person having care of it.
Section 94	Concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body.
Section 95	Hiring, employing or engaging a child to commit an offence.
Section 96	Procuration of child.
Section 97	Kidnapping or abducting child under ten years of age with intent to steal from its person.
Section 98	Selling child for purposes of prostitution, etc.
Section 99	Buying child for purposes of prostitution, etc.
Chapter VI	Of Offences Affecting the Human Body
	Of offences affecting life
Section 100	Culpable homicide.
Section 101	Murder.
Section 102	Culpable homicide by causing death of person other than person whose death was intended.
Section 103	Punishment for murder.
Section 104	Punishment for murder by life-convict.
Section 105	Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Section 106	Causing death by negligence.
Section 107	Abetment of suicide of child or person of unsound mind.
Section 108	Abetment of suicide.
Section 109	Attempt to murder.
Section 110	Attempt to commit culpable homicide.
Section 111	Organised crime.
Section 112	Petty organised crime
Section 113	Terrorist act.
	Of hurt
Section 114	Hurt.
Section 115	Voluntarily causing hurt.
Section 116	Grievous hurt.
Section 117	Voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
Section 118	Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means.
Section 119	Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act.
Section 120	Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to extort confession, or to compel restoration of property.
Section 121	Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty.
Section 122	Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt on provocation.
Section 123	Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence.
Section 124	Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc.
Section 125	Act endangering life or personal safety of others
	Of wrongful restraint and wrongful confinement
Section 126	Wrongful restraint.
Section 127	Wrongful confinement.
	Of criminal force and assault
Section 128	Force.
Section 129	Criminal force.
Section 130	Assault.
Section 131	Punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation.
Section 132	Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty.
Section 133	Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation.
Section 134	Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person.
Section 135	Assault or criminal force in attempt to wrongfully confine a person.
Section 136	Assault or criminal force on grave provocation.
	Of kidnapping, abduction, slavery and forced labour
Section 137	Kidnapping.
Section 138	Abduction.
Section 139	Kidnapping or maiming a child for purposes of begging.
Section 140	Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder or for ransom, etc.
Section 141	Importation of girl or boy from foreign country.
Section 142	Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person.
Section 143	Trafficking of person.
Section 144	Exploitation of a trafficked person.
Section 145	Habitual dealing in slaves.
Section 146	Unlawful compulsory labour.
Chapter VII	Of Offences Against the State
Section 147	Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against Government of India.
Section 148	Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 147.
Section 149	Collecting arms, etc., with intention of waging war against Government of India.
Section 150	Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war.
Section 151	Assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain exercise of any lawful power.
Section 152	Act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
Section 153	Waging war against Government of any foreign State at peace with Government of India.
Section 154	Committing depredation on territories of foreign State at peace with Government of India.
Section 155	Receiving property taken by war or depredation mentioned in sections 153 and 154.
Section 156	Public servant voluntarily allowing prisoner of State or war to escape.
Section 157	Public servant negligently suffering such prisoner to escape.
Section 158	Aiding escape of, rescuing or harbouring such prisoner.
Chapter VIII	Of Offences Relating to the Army, Navy and Air Force
Section 159	Abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty.
Section 160	Abetment of mutiny, if mutiny is committed in consequence thereof.
Section 161	Abetment of assault by soldier, sailor or airman on his superior officer, when in execution of his office.
Section 162	Abetment of such assault, if assault committed.
Section 163	Abetment of desertion of soldier, sailor or airman.
Section 164	Harbouring deserter.
Section 165	Deserter concealed on board merchant vessel through negligence of master.
Section 166	Abetment of act of insubordination by soldier, sailor or airman.
Section 167	Persons subject to certain Acts.
Section 168	Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman
Chapter IX	Of Offences Relating to Elections
Section 169	Candidate, electoral right defined.
Section 170	Bribery.
Section 171	Undue influence at elections.
Section 172	Personation at elections.
Section 173	Punishment for bribery.
Section 174	Punishment for undue influence or personation at an election.
Section 175	False statement in connection with an election.
Section 176	Illegal payments in connection with an election.
Section 177	Failure to keep election accounts.
Chapter X	Of Offences Relating to Coin, Currency-Notes, Bank-Notes, and Government Stamps
Section 178	Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes.
Section 179	Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes.
Section 180	Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes.
Section 181	Making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes.
Section 182	Making or using documents resembling currency-notes or bank-notes.
Section 183	Effacing writing from substance bearing Government stamp, or removing from document a stamp used for it, with intent to cause loss to Government.
Section 184	Using Government stamp known to have been before used.
Section 185	Erasure of mark denoting that stamp has been used.
Section 186	Prohibition of fictitious stamps.
Section 187	Person employed in mint causing coin to be of different weight or composition from that fixed by law.
Section 188	Unlawfully taking coining instrument from mint.
Chapter XI	Of Offences Against the Public Tranquility
Section 189	Unlawful assembly.
Section 190	Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object.
Section 191	Rioting.
Section 192	Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot-if rioting be committed; if not committed.
Section 193	Liability of owner, occupier, etc., of land on which an unlawful assembly or riot takes place.
Section 194	Affray.
Section 195	Assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot, etc.
Section 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.
Section 197	Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration.
Chapter XII	Of Offences by or Relating to Public Servants
Section 198	Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person.
Section 199	Public servant disobeying direction under law.
Section 200	Punishment for non-treatment of victim.
Section 201	Public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury.
Section 202	Public servant unlawfully engaging in trade.
Section 203	Public servant unlawfully buying or bidding for property.
Section 204	Personating a public servant.
Section 205	Wearing garb or carrying token used by public servant with fraudulent intent.
Chapter XIII	Of Contempts of the Lawful Authority of Public Servants
Section 206	Absconding to avoid service of summons or other proceeding.
Section 207	Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof.
Section 208	Non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant.
Section 209	Non-appearance in response to a proclamation under section 84 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Section 210	Omission to produce document or electronic record to public servant by person legally bound to produce it.
Section 211	Omission to give notice or information to public servant by person legally bound to give it.
Section 212	Furnishing false information.
Section 213	Refusing oath or affirmation when duly required by public servant to make it.
Section 214	Refusing to answer public servant authorised to question.
Section 215	Refusing to sign statement.
Section 216	False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorised to administer an oath or affirmation.
Section 217	False information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to injury of another person.
Section 218	Resistance to taking of property by lawful authority of a public servant.
Section 219	Obstructing sale of property offered for sale by authority of public servant.
Section 220	Illegal purchase or bid for property offered for sale by authority of public servant.
Section 221	Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions.
Section 222	Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance.
Section 223	Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.
Section 224	Threat of injury to public servant.
Section 225	Threat of injury to induce person to refrain from applying for protection to public servant.
Section 226	Attempt to commit suicide to compel or restrain exercise of lawful power.
Chapter XIV	Of False Evidence and Offences Against Public Justice
Section 227	Giving false evidence.
Section 228	Fabricating false evidence.
Section 229	Punishment for false evidence.
Section 230	Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence.
Section 231	Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of offence punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment.
Section 232	Threatening any person to give false evidence.
Section 233	Using evidence known to be false.
Section 234	Issuing or signing false certificate.
Section 235	Using as true a certificate known to be false.
Section 236	False statement made in declaration which is by law receivable as evidence.
Section 237	Using as true such declaration knowing it to be false.
Section 238	Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender.
Section 239	Intentional omission to give information of offence by person bound to inform.
Section 240	Giving false information respecting an offence committed.
Section 241	Destruction of document or electronic record to prevent its production as evidence.
Section 242	False personation for purpose of act or proceeding in suit or prosecution.
Section 243	Fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution.
Section 244	Fraudulent claim to property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution.
Section 245	Fraudulently suffering decree for sum not due.
Section 246	Dishonestly making false claim in Court.
Section 247	Fraudulently obtaining decree for sum not due.
Section 248	False charge of offence made with intent to injure.
Section 249	Harbouring offender.
Section 250	Taking gift, etc., to screen an offender from punishment.
Section 251	Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender.
Section 252	Taking gift to help to recover stolen property, etc.
Section 253	Harbouring offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been ordered.
Section 254	Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits.
Section 255	Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture.
Section 256	Public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture.
Section 257	Public servant in judicial proceeding corruptly making report, etc., contrary to law.
Section 258	Commitment for trial or confinement by person having authority who knows that he is acting contrary to law.
Section 259	Intentional omission to apprehend on part of public servant bound to apprehend.
Section 260	Intentional omission to apprehend on part of public servant bound to apprehend person under sentence or lawfully committed.
Section 261	Escape from confinement or custody negligently suffered by public servant.
Section 262	Resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension.
Section 263	Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension of another person.
Section 264	Omission to apprehend, or sufferance of escape, on part of public servant, in cases not otherwise provided for.
Section 265	Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension or escape or rescue in cases not otherwise provided for.
Section 266	Violation of condition of remission of punishment.
Section 267	Intentional insult or interruption to public servant sitting in judicial proceeding.
Section 268	Personation of assessor.
Section 269	Failure by person released on bail bond or bond to appear in Court.
Chapter XV	Of Offences Affecting the Public Health, Safety, Convenience, Decency and Morals
Section 270	Public nuisance.
Section 271	Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life.
Section 272	Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life.
Section 273	Disobedience to quarantine rule.
Section 274	Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale.
Section 275	Sale of noxious food or drink.
Section 276	Adulteration of drugs.
Section 277	Sale of adulterated drugs.
Section 278	Sale of drug as a different drug or preparation.
Section 279	Fouling water of public spring or reservoir.
Section 280	Making atmosphere noxious to health.
Section 281	Rash driving or riding on a public way.
Section 282	Rash navigation of vessel.
Section 283	Exhibition of false light, mark or buoy.
Section 284	Conveying person by water for hire in unsafe or overloaded vessel.
Section 285	Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation.
Section 286	Negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance.
Section 287	Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter.
Section 288	Negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance.
Section 289	Negligent conduct with respect to machinery.
Section 290	Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings, etc.
Section 291	Negligent conduct with respect to animal.
Section 292	Punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for.
Section 293	Continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue.
Section 294	Sale, etc., of obscene books, etc.
Section 295	Sale, etc., of obscene objects to child.
Section 296	Obscene acts and songs.
Section 297	Keeping lottery office
Chapter XVI	Of Offences Relating to Religion
Section 298	Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult religion of any class.
Section 299	Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.
Section 300	Disturbing religious assembly.
Section 301	Trespassing on burial places, etc.
Section 302	Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings of any person.
Chapter XVII	Of Offences Against Property
Section 303	Theft.
Section 304	Snatching.
Section 305	Theft in a dwelling house, or means of transportation or place of worship, etc.
Section 306	Theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master.
Section 307	Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to committing of theft.
	Of extortion
Section 308	Extortion
	Of robbery and dacoity
Section 309	Robbery.
Section 310	Dacoity.
Section 311	Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt.
Section 312	Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon.
Section 313	Punishment for belonging to gang of robbers, etc.
	Of criminal misappropriation of property
Section 314	Dishonest misappropriation of property
Section 315	Dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of his death.
	Of criminal breach of trust
Section 316	Criminal breach of trust.
	Of receiving stolen property
Section 317	Stolen property.
	Of cheating
Section 318	Cheating
Section 319	Cheating by personation.
	Of fraudulent deeds and dispositions of property
Section 320	Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent distribution among creditors.
Section 321	Dishonestly or fraudulently preventing debt being available for creditors.
Section 322	Dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement of consideration.
Section 323	Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property.
	Of mischief
Section 324	Mischief.
Section 325	Mischief by killing or maiming animal.
Section 326	Mischief by injury, inundation, fire or explosive substance, etc.
Section 327	Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a rail, aircraft, decked vessel or one of twenty tons burden.
Section 328	Punishment for intentionally running vessel aground or ashore with intent to commit theft, etc.
	Of criminal trespass
Section 329	Criminal trespass and house-trespass.
Section 330	House-trespass and house-breaking.
Section 331	Punishment for house-trespass or house-breaking.
Section 332	House-trespass in order to commit offence.
Section 333	House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint.
Section 334	Dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property.
Chapter XVIII	Of Offences Relating to Documents and to Property Marks
Section 335	Making a false document.
Section 336	Forgery.
Section 337	Forgery of record of Court or of public register, etc.
Section 338	Forgery of valuable security, will, etc.
Section 339	Having possession of document described in section 337 or section 338, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it as genuine.
Section 340	Forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine.
Section 341	Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable under section 338.
Section 342	Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 338, or possessing counterfeit marked material.
Section 343	Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security.
Section 344	Falsification of accounts
	Of property marks
Section 345	Property mark.
Section 346	Tampering with property mark with intent to cause injury.
Section 347	Counterfeiting a property mark.
Section 348	Making or possession of any instrument for counterfeiting a property mark.
Section 349	Selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark.
Section 350	Making a false mark upon any receptacle containing goods.
Chapter XIX	Of Criminal Intimidation, Insult, Annoyance, Defamation, Etc.
Section 351	Criminal intimidation.
Section 352	Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace.
Section 353	Statements conducing to public mischief.
Section 354	Act caused by inducing person to believe that he will be rendered an object of Divine displeasure.
Section 355	Misconduct in public by a drunken person.
	Of defamation
Section 356	Defamation.
	Of breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person
Section 357	Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person.
Chapter XX	Repeal and savings
Section 358	Repeal and savings

Conclusion

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita that has been drafted and enacted on modern principles has the potential to reshape India's legal landscape. It is true that its widespread enactment and pursuance will ensure justice that is modern, humane, and responsive to the needs of a dynamic society; however, still questions like its impact on ongoing cases under IPC, and the effectiveness of its enforcement mechanisms are major concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What's the main goal of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023?

Ans. The key objective and goal of BNS is to modernize and streamline India's criminal justice system. Besides, it is also intended to address contemporary issues and incorporate a more humane approach to punishment.

Q How does the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita differ from the existing Indian Penal Code?.

Ans. Visibly, the BNS is shorter, simpler, and clearer than the IPC. Secondly, to define the new types of crimes (exclusively cybercrimes), new chapters on cybercrime and terrorism added. Lastly, the outdated provisions are removed.

Q. What happens to sedition under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?

Ans. The offense of “sedition” that defined under the section 124A of Indian Penal Code, is removed and a new term is introduced as “broader national security provisions.”

Q. Are there concerns about human rights?

Ans. The emphasis on some provisions, especially the “solitary confinement” and “broad anti-terrorism clauses” raise concerns about potential abuse and limitations on individual liberties.

Q. Will existing cases under the IPC be affected?

Ans. Most likely, the existing cases will be trialed based on IPC or other existing law.

Q. What are the potential advantages and disadvantages of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023?

Ans. The advantages of BNS include −

• the modernization and update of existing Code,

• simplification of lengthy and complex languages,

• proper description of contemporary and modern era crimes,

• insertion of community service, etc.

Disadvantages include −

• concerns of human rights concerns,

• potential misuse of certain provisions, etc.