Old law lookup
IPC Section 378
Theft (definition)
New section under BNS
BNS Section 302— Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings of any person
Effective for any FIR, charge sheet, or filing on or after 1 July 2024. Matters that arose before that date continue under the IPC.
What the new section does
Penalises deliberate acts — uttering words, making sounds, gestures, or placing objects — intended to wound the religious feelings of any person who hears or sees them.
- Punishment
- Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 1 year, or fine, or both.
- Triable by
- Any Magistrate
- Cognizable
- No
- Bailable
- Yes
For the full text of the new section, see the linked BNS page above. For the binding statutory text, refer to the India Code or the Gazette of India. This reference is informational, not legal advice.