BNS §191
Rioting
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Comparison
148. Rioting, armed with deadly weapon.—Whoever is guilty of rioting, being armed with a deadly weapon or with anything which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
(1) Whenever force or violence is used by an unlawful assembly, or by any member thereof, in prosecution of the common object of such assembly, every member of such assembly is guilty of the offence of rioting.
(2) Whoever is guilty of rioting, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
(3) Whoever is guilty of rioting, being armed with a deadly weapon or with anything which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.
What changedAI-inferred
IPC 148 (rioting armed with a deadly weapon, or with anything which used as a weapon of offence is likely to cause death) is preserved as BNS 191(3) with a single substantive change: the imprisonment ceiling expands from 3 years (IPC 148) to 5 years (BNS 191(3)). The actus reus and the alternative-fine punishment structure are character-identical.
Old position
IPC 148 is concerned with Rioting, armed with deadly weapon. Rioting, armed with deadly weapon
New position
BNS 191 modifies the framework. Topic: Rioting. Whenever force or violence is used by an unlawful assembly, or by any member thereof, in prosecution of the common object of such assembly, every member of such assembly is guilty of the offence of rioting
IPC 148 (rioting armed with a deadly weapon, or with anything which used as a weapon of offence is likely to cause death) is preserved as BNS 191(3) with a single substantive change: the imprisonment ceiling expands from 3 years (IPC 148) to 5 years (BNS 191(3)). The actus reus and the...
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
BNS 191 consolidates the IPC rioting cluster (IPC 146 base definition, IPC 147 base punishment, IPC 148 armed-rioting variant) into a single structured section: (1) defines rioting (force or violence used by an unlawful assembly in prosecution of common object), (2) penalises base rioting at imprisonment up to two years (or fine or both), (3) addresses the armed-rioting variant which IPC 148 governed. The extract for BNS 191(3) is partly truncated; the IPC 148 three-year-armed-rioting penalty appears to be carried forward in BNS 191(3).
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 148 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 191 applies. The transition is governed by the repeal-and-savings clause in the new code (BNS 358 / BNSS 531 / BSA 170 as the case may be); pending proceedings under the old code carry forward unaffected.
Frequently asked
BNS 191 (Rioting). The relationship is classified as modified — see the change-note above for the textual delta.
Sources
- India Code — Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Gazette of India — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Cite this page
Newlaws.in, IPC §148 → BNS §191 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-14, https://newlaws.in/bns/191.
Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01
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