IPC §153B → BNS §197
Imputation, assertions prejudicial to national-integration
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Comparison
1[153B. Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration.—(1) Whoever, by words either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise,— (a) makes or publishes any imputation that any class of persons cannot, by reason of their being members of any religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community, bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established or uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, or (b) asserts, counsels, advises, propagates or publishes that any class of persons shall, by reason of their being members of any religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community, be denied, or deprived of their rights as citizens of India, or (c) makes or publishes and assertion, counsel, plea or appeal concerning the obligation of any class of persons, by reason of their being members of any religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community, and such assertion, counsel, plea or appeal causes or is likely to cause disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will between such members and other persons, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
(2) Whoever commits an offence specified in sub-section
(1) in any place of worship or in any assembly engaged in the performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.]
(1) Whoever, by words either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic communication or otherwise,—
(a) makes or publishes any imputation that any class of persons cannot, by reason of their being members of any religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community, bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established or uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India; or
(b) asserts, counsels, advises, propagates or publishes that any class of persons shall, by reason of their being members of any religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community, be denied, or deprived of their rights as citizens of India; or
(c) makes or publishes any assertion, counsel, plea or appeal concerning the obligation of any class of persons, by reason of their being members of any religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community, and such assertion, counsel, plea or appeal causes or is likely to cause disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will between such members and other persons; or
(d) makes or publishes false or misleading information, jeopardising the sovereignty, unity and integrity or security of India,
shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
(2) Whoever commits an offence specified in sub-section (1) in any place of worship or in any assembly engaged in the performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.
What changedAI-inferred
IPC 153B (imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration) is preserved as BNS 197 with two substantive expansions. First, the chapeau adds 'or through electronic communication' as an explicit means of commission. Second, BNS 197(1)(d) is a NEW sub-clause: 'makes or publishes false or misleading information, jeopardising the sovereignty, unity and integrity or security of India'. This misinformation/fake-news clause has no IPC 153B counterpart. Clauses (a)–(c) (imputation that a class cannot bear true faith / be denied citizenship rights / cause disharmony) and the place-of-worship aggravator in sub-section (2) are preserved character-identically. The new clause (d) is the first explicit misinformation-targeting sub-offence in the public-tranquillity chapter and reflects the BNS modernisation pattern of digital-age criminal-law updates.
Old position
IPC 153B is concerned with Imputation, assertions prejudicial to national-integration. 1[153B
New position
BNS 197 modifies the framework. Topic: Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration. Whoever, by words either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic communication or otherwise,
IPC 153B (imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration) is preserved as BNS 197 with two substantive expansions. First, the chapeau adds 'or through electronic communication' as an explicit means of commission. Second, BNS 197(1)(d) is a NEW sub-clause: 'makes or publishes false...
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
What is preserved: sub-clauses (1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(c) and sub-section (2) are carried forward character-identically. Punishment ladder preserved (3 years + fine general; 5 years + fine for the place-of-worship aggravation).
What is newly added: BNS 197 introduces sub-clause (d) makes or publishes false or misleading information, jeopardising the sovereignty, unity and integrity or security of India. There is no IPC 153B counterpart; this is a substantive scope expansion criminalising false-information conduct as a stand-alone trigger distinct from imputations-against-class. Punishment is the same as (a)/(b)/(c).
What changed: Modality lists in (a)/(b)/(c) add through electronic communication; same drafting pattern as the parallel IPC 153A->BNS 196 edit.
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 153B continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 197 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 197 (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration). 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 §153B → BNS §197 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-12, https://newlaws.in/ipc/153B.
Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01
Not legal advice. Verify against the bare act and consult a qualified advocate for any specific matter.