IPC 1860 to BNS 2023 Section Conversion Table
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.