BNS §204
Personating a public servant
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Comparison
170. Personating a public servant.—Whoever pretends to hold any particular office as a public servant, knowing that he does not hold such office or falsely personates any other person holding such office, and in such assumed character does or attempts to do any act under colour of such office, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. 1. Ins. by Act 13 of 2013, s. 3 (w.e.f. 03-02-2013). 2. Subs. by Act 22 of 2018, s. 2, for “section 376B, section 376C, section 376D” (w.e.f. 21-4-2018). 3. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, s. 91 and the First Sch., for certain words (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Whoever pretends to hold any particular office as a public servant, knowing that he does not hold such office or falsely personates any other person holding such office, and in such assumed character does or attempts to do any act under colour of such office, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to three years and with fine.
What changedAI-inferred
IPC 170 (pretending to hold a public-servant office or falsely personating any other person holding such office, and doing or attempting any act under colour of such office) is preserved as BNS 204 with three substantive punishment changes: (1) a mandatory minimum imprisonment of six months is introduced (IPC 170 had no minimum); (2) the imprisonment ceiling is raised from 'two years' to 'three years'; (3) fine becomes mandatory and cumulative ('and with fine') rather than alternative ('or with fine, or with both'). The actus reus is preserved character-identically.
Old position
IPC 170 is concerned with Personating a public servant. Personating a public servant
New position
BNS 204 modifies the framework. Topic: Personating a public servant. Whoever pretends to hold any particular office as a public servant, knowing that he does not hold such office or falsely personates any other person holding such office, and in such assumed character does or attempts to do any act under
IPC 170 (pretending to hold a public-servant office or falsely personating any other person holding such office, and doing or attempting any act under colour of such office) is preserved as BNS 204 with three substantive punishment changes: (1) a mandatory minimum imprisonment of six months is...
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
BNS-204 reproduces IPC-170's framework on personating a public servant character-identically. Historical-amendment brackets are incorporated as plain text. Punishment levels are preserved.
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 170 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 204 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 204 (Personating a public servant). 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 §170 → BNS §204 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-15, https://newlaws.in/bns/204.
Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01
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