IPC §376AB → BNS §65

Punishment for rape on woman under twelve years of age

Substantively sameConfidence: mediumStatus: cross checkedconsolidation context(observed)
View government sourcemha.gov.in(opens the Indian Penal Code, 1860 PDF on mha.gov.in in a new tab)
Last updated 2026-05-01 · Input coverage: full

Compiled by AI-assisted tools. Text verified against official sources where indicated. Field-level labels (AI-indicated / AI-inferred / Text-verified) apply per edge metadata. Verify current bail/cognizable status against official sources before relying on procedural claims. Last updated: 2026-04-28.

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Comparison

Old law
IPC §376AB
Punishment for rape on woman under twelve years of age

376AB. Punishment for rape on woman under twelve years of age.—Whoever, commits rape on a woman under twelve years of age shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, and with fine or with death: Provided that such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim: Provided further that any fine imposed under this section shall be paid to the victim.]

New law
BNS §65
Punishment for rape in certain cases

(1) Whoever, commits rape on a woman under sixteen years of age shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, and shall also be liable to fine: Provided that such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim: Provided further that any fine imposed under this sub-section shall be paid to the victim.

(2) Whoever, commits rape on a woman under twelve years of age shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, and with fine or with death: Provided that such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim: Provided further that any fine imposed under this sub-section shall be paid to the victim.

What changedAI-inferred

IPC 376AB preserved as BNS 65(2). 20-year minimum to natural life or death.

Old position

IPC Section 376AB is concerned with Punishment for rape on woman under twelve years of age.

New position

The successor provision is BNS 65 (Punishment for rape in certain cases). Relationship: substantively_same. See the change-note for the operative delta.

Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)

BNS 65 (Punishment for rape in certain cases) preserves the framework of IPC 376AB. BNS 65 retains the operative provisions in substantively the same form, with drafting modernisation and structural updates as required by the new code.

BNS 65 text: Whoever, commits rape on a woman under sixteen years of age shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, and shall also be liable to fine:...

Transitional note (repeal & savings)

For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 376AB continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 65 applies. The transition is governed by the repeal-and-savings clause in the new code (BNS 358); pending proceedings under the old code carry forward in their existing frame.

Frequently asked

BNS 65. The relationship is classified as substantively_same. See the change-note above for the textual delta.

Government source

The statutory text above is compiled from the Act as published by the Government of India. The links open the full Act; use the PDF's search to find the section number. The linked government pages offer no link to a single section.

Newlaws.in is an independent site, not a government body. The mappings and notes on this page are its own AI-assisted comparison and are not published or endorsed by any government body.

Cite this page

Newlaws.in, IPC §376AB → BNS §65 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-10-29, https://newlaws.in/ipc/376AB.

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.