IPC 1860 to BNS 2023 Section Conversion Table

Following the implementation of the new criminal laws in India with effect from 1 July 2024, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) has replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC).

Since previous year question papers and landmark court judgments reference the old IPC sections, citing the correct BNS section is critical to scoring high marks in exams. Below is the conversion table for all high-frequency penal topics.

📋 IPC vs. BNS Section Mapping

Offense / Topic	Old IPC Section	New BNS Section	Key Changes & Notes
Common Intention	Section 34	Section 3(5)	Joint liability remains unchanged in substance.
Punishments	Section 53	Section 4	Introduced Community Service as a new form of punishment.
Accident / Necessity / Insanity	Sections 80 / 81 / 84	Sections 18 / 19 / 22	General Exceptions are retained.
Private Defence	Sections 96–106	Sections 34–44	Provisions on right of private defence of body and property.
Abetment	Sections 107–120	Sections 45–60	Legal liability for abetting offenses.
Criminal Conspiracy	Section 120A & 120B	Section 61	Placed in the same chapter as abetment and attempts.
Attempts	Section 511	Section 62	Retains general attempt rules for unspecified offenses.
Rape & Sexual Offenses	Sections 375 & 376	Sections 63–72	Retitled and restructured. Sex on false promise of marriage is explicitly penalized under Section 69.
Cruelty by Husband	Section 498A	Sections 85–86	Retains criminal liability for domestic cruelty.
Dowry Death	Section 304B	Section 80	Retains the statutory presumption period of 7 years.
Bigamy	Section 494	Section 82	Penalty for marrying again during lifetime of husband or wife.
Culpable Homicide	Section 299	Section 100	Defines offense of causing death without absolute malice.
Murder	Section 300 & 302	Section 101 & 103	Section 101 defines murder; Section 103 prescribes the punishment.
Mob Lynching	— (New)	Section 103(2)	Prescribes death or life imprisonment for murder by a group of 5+ on grounds of race, caste, community, sex, etc.
Death by Negligence	Section 304A	Section 106	Severe punishments introduced for hit-and-run cases.
Organized Crime	— (New)	Section 111	Penalizes syndicate crimes, contract killing, and economic offenses.
Terrorist Act	— (New)	Section 113	Integrates anti-terror provisions directly into the general penal code.
Hurt / Grievous Hurt	Sections 319 & 320	Sections 114 & 116	Legal categories for simple and severe bodily hurt.
Acid Attack	Section 326A & 326B	Section 124	Mandatory minimum compensation rules maintained.
Wrongful Restraint / Confinement	Sections 339 & 340	Sections 126 & 127	Restricting movement in a particular direction vs. inside boundaries.
Criminal Force / Assault	Sections 350 & 351	Sections 129 & 131	Criminal use of force and threatening gestures.
Kidnapping / Abduction	Sections 359 & 362	Sections 137 & 138	Restructuring of offenses against liberty.
Offences against the State	Sections 121–130	Sections 147–158	Sedition (IPC 124A) is abolished; replaced by Section 152 (endangering sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India).
Unlawful Assembly	Sections 141 & 149	Sections 189 & 190	Defines assembly of 5+ and constructive liability for common object.
Rioting / Affray	Sections 146 & 159	Sections 191 & 194	Assembly using force vs. public fight disrupting peace.
False Evidence / Perjury	Sections 191 & 192	Sections 227 & 228	Giving and fabricating false evidence.
Public Nuisance	Section 268	Section 270	Common injury or danger to the public.
Theft	Section 378 & 379	Section 303	Retains standard elements; introduces Section 304 (Snatching) as a distinct offense.
Extortion	Section 383	Section 308	Putting in fear of injury to extract property.
Robbery / Dacoity	Sections 390 & 391	Sections 309 & 310	Aggravated theft/extortion vs. robbery conjointly committed by 5+.
Criminal Misappropriation	Section 403	Section 314	Converting found property to own use.
Criminal Breach of Trust	Section 405	Section 316	Dishonest disposal of entrusted property.
Cheating	Section 415	Sections 318–319	Deceiving and inducing delivery of property.
Mischief	Section 425	Section 324	Destroying or diminishing value/utility of property.
Criminal Trespass	Section 441	Section 329	Entering property with intent to intimidate, annoy or commit an offense.
Forgery	Section 463 & 464	Section 336 & 335	Creating false documents to support claims or defraud.
Defamation	Section 499 & 500	Section 356	Retains exceptions; adds Community Service as alternative punishment.
Adultery	Section 497	— (Abolished)	Struck down by Supreme Court (Joseph Shine v. Union of India) and omitted in BNS.

💡 Key Structural Changes to Keep in Mind:

Abolition of Sedition: The controversial Section 124A (Sedition) of the IPC has been omitted. Under Section 152 of the BNS, acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India are penalized (specifically targeting armed rebellion or secession, not generic criticism of administration).
Introduction of Snatching: Unlike the IPC (where snatching was prosecuted under theft or robbery), Section 304 of the BNS introduces Snatching as a distinct, specialized offense carrying heavier penalties.
Organized Crime and Terrorism: Separate, specialized offenses for organized crime syndicates (Section 111) and terrorist acts (Section 113) are now codified directly within the general penal law.