Indian Penal Code
The main criminal code of India, detailing offenses, definitions, and punishments. It covers everything from theft and assault to fraud and homicide. Replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in 2024.
The Indian Penal Code (IPC) was drafted in 1860 under the presidency of Thomas Babington Macaulay and came into force in 1862. It served as the official criminal code of the Republic of India, governing criminal liabilities, general exceptions, and punitive measures for all categories of crimes. The code has been replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) which was enacted in 2023 and implemented in 2024 to modernize penal statutes.
Substantial Amendments Enacted
This law has been recently superseded or amended in the India legal system (e.g. IPC replaced by Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2024). Verify if your case falls under the old Penal Code or the new Sanhita.
View old vs new comparison tableSimplified Sections
50 sections explainedCheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property
This section deals with fraud or cheating where someone lies or deceives you to take away your money, property, assets, or signature. If someone tricks you with false promises (like a fake job or selling a fake land) and takes your money, they have committed an offense under Section 420.
Read plain explanationPunishment for murder
This section sets the punishment for intentionally causing the death of a person. If someone causes the death of another person with clear intent and planning (without any legal excuse or sudden provocation), it is legally classified as murder.
Read plain explanationPunishment for rape
This section details the strict punishment for committing sexual assault (rape) without consent, or against the will of a person, or under coercion/deception.
Read plain explanationAttempt to murder
This section covers cases where someone tries to kill you but fails. The action taken must be capable of causing death, and there must be clear intent or knowledge that it could result in death.
Read plain explanationHusband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty
This is a protective law to stop domestic abuse against married women. It covers physical, mental, or emotional harassment, especially dowry-related demands, by the husband or his family members.
Read plain explanationAssault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty
This section targets physical harassment and molestation of women. If anyone uses force, gropes, physical gestures, or assaults a woman to violate her privacy or outrage her dignity, they face criminal prosecution.
Read plain explanationDowry death
If a woman dies suspiciously (due to burns, injuries, or suicide) within 7 years of marriage, and it is proven she was harassed for dowry shortly before her death, the husband and his family are held responsible for causing her death.
Read plain explanationPunishment for criminal intimidation
This section punishes people who threaten to harm you, your family, your property, or your reputation to force you to do something against your will or just to scare you. Threatening to kill someone falls under Part 2 of this section, carrying up to 7 years in jail.
Read plain explanationPunishment for theft
This section applies when someone dishonestly takes away your movable property (like your phone, wallet, or car) without your permission or consent.
Read plain explanationPunishment for criminal breach of trust
This section applies when you trust someone with your money or property (e.g. giving gold to a jeweler, or handing money to a business partner), and they dishonestly misuse or keep it for themselves instead of returning it.
Read plain explanationPunishment for voluntarily causing hurt
This section deals with minor physical violence. If someone slaps, punches, or beats you, causing pain or minor injury (without fracture or permanent damage), they can be prosecuted under this section.
Read plain explanationPunishment for wrongful restraint
Wrongful restraint is blocking someone from walking or traveling in a direction where they have a legal right to go. For example, parking a car to intentionally block someone's driveway or physically stopping them on a road.
Read plain explanationPunishment for dacoity
Dacoity is when five or more people jointly commit or attempt to commit a robbery using force or threat. It is considered a severe offense because of the group size and danger to public safety.
Read plain explanationRobbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt
If a robber or dacoit uses a deadly weapon (like a gun or sword), stabs someone, or tries to kill someone during the heist, they face a mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison.
Read plain explanationActs done by several persons in furtherance of common intention
Common Intention. When a group of people plans and carries out a crime together, each person is held equally responsible as if they did it alone.
Read plain explanationPunishment of criminal conspiracy
Criminal Conspiracy. When two or more people plan/agree to commit a crime, even if the crime hasn't happened yet, the planning itself is a crime.
Read plain explanationPunishment for rioting
Rioting. When an unlawful assembly of 5 or more people uses violence or force, disturbing public peace. This carries up to 2 years in prison.
Read plain explanationDisobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant
Disobeying Government Orders. Violating rules issued by public officials (e.g. violating a curfew or lockdown order, or protest bans).
Read plain explanationRash driving or riding on a public way
Reckless Driving. Driving or riding a vehicle in a public place so fast or carelessly that it risks hitting others or damaging property.
Read plain explanationPunishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for
Public Nuisance. Causing annoyance, disturbance, noise, or danger to the general public in a neighborhood.
Read plain explanationObscene acts and songs
Public Obscenity. Doing obscene acts in public, or singing/reciting vulgar songs that cause annoyance to others.
Read plain explanationCausing death by negligence
Negligent Death. Causing someone's death by accident due to careless or reckless acts (e.g. hit and run, doctor negligence, collapsing building).
Read plain explanationAbetment of suicide
Abetting Suicide. Instigating, harassing, or encouraging a person so much that they take their own life. A very serious non-bailable offense.
Read plain explanationAttempt to commit suicide
Attempted Suicide. Legally an offense under old IPC, though practically decriminalized in modern times via the Mental Healthcare Act.
Read plain explanationVoluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means
Hurting with Weapons. Intentionally hitting or injuring someone using a weapon like a knife, rod, fire, poison, or acid.
Read plain explanationPunishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt
Grievous Hurt. Intentionally breaking a bone, knocking out teeth, damaging eyes, or causing severe pain for 20+ days.
Read plain explanationAct endangering life or personal safety of others
Endangering Safety. Doing something recklessly that risks the life or safety of others (like throwing stones onto a busy highway).
Read plain explanationCausing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others
Negligent Grievous Hurt. Causing severe injury (like a broken leg) to someone due to reckless or negligent behavior.
Read plain explanationPunishment for wrongful confinement
Wrongful Confinement. Locking a person in a room, house, or bounded area so they cannot go anywhere at all.
Read plain explanationAssault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty
Assaulting Government Officer. Attacking or using force against a public servant (like a police officer or tax collector) on duty.
Read plain explanationPunishment for kidnapping
Kidnapping. Taking a minor boy (under 16) or girl (under 18) or a person of unsound mind away from their legal guardians without permission.
Read plain explanationUnnatural offenses
Unnatural Sex. Historically used to criminalize homosexual acts; declared unconstitutional regarding consenting adults by Supreme Court in 2018.
Read plain explanationTheft in dwelling house, etc.
Theft inside a House. Committing theft inside a building, tent, or vessel used as a human dwelling or for custody of property.
Read plain explanationPunishment for extortion
Extortion. Forcing someone to hand over money, signatures, or property by threatening to harm them or expose secrets.
Read plain explanationCriminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent
Breach of Trust by Officials. A government officer, banker, or merchant misusing funds or assets trusted to them by the public.
Read plain explanationDishonestly receiving stolen property
Buying Stolen Goods. Knowingly purchasing, receiving, or keeping goods that were stolen by someone else.
Read plain explanationPunishment for cheating
Simple Cheating. Deceiving a person without necessarily inducing them to hand over valuable property. (Often paired with Sec 420).
Read plain explanationMischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees
Property Damage (Mischief). Intentionally vandalizing or destroying someone else's property, causing a loss of ₹50 or more.
Read plain explanationPunishment for criminal trespass
Criminal Trespass. Entering onto someone else's property without permission to commit a crime, annoy, or intimidate them.
Read plain explanationPunishment for house-trespass
House Trespass. Illegally entering into someone's home or dwelling without permission.
Read plain explanationForgery for purpose of cheating
Forgery. Creating false documents, forged signatures, or fake certificates with the intention of using them to cheat someone.
Read plain explanationCounterfeiting currency-notes or bank-notes
Fake Currency. Printing, forging, or counterfeiting currency notes or bank notes. A major economic crime.
Read plain explanationMarrying again during lifetime of husband or wife
Bigamy. Marrying another person while your first marriage is still legally active and you haven't gotten a divorce.
Read plain explanationAdultery
Adultery. Historically, sexual relationships by a man with a married woman without husband's consent; declared unconstitutional in 2018.
Read plain explanationDefamation
Defamation. Making false statements (spoken or written) about a person to ruin their reputation in society.
Read plain explanationIntentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace
Abuse. Intentionally insulting or abusing someone with vulgar language to provoke them to fight or disturb peace.
Read plain explanationWord, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman
Harassing Gestures. Making vulgar comments, whistles, sounds, or showing obscene drawings to insult a woman's modesty.
Read plain explanationPunishment for attempting to commit offenses punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment
Attempting Crimes. Attempting to commit any crime that is punishable by law, where no specific section covers the attempt.
Read plain explanationPunishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder
Manslaughter. Causing death without planning, or in a sudden heat of passion, or due to a fight without prior intent.
Read plain explanationTheft definition
Theft Definition. The core definition of taking movable property without consent. The punishment itself is under Section 379.
Read plain explanationKey Highlighted Sections
Related Laws
The content on this page is a simplified explanation for educational purposes. It is not an official copy of the law, nor should it be used as professional legal counsel.