IPC §4BNS §1

Extension of Code to extra-territorial offences

ModifiedConfidence: mediumStatus: cross checkeddefinition drift(precautionary)consolidation context(precautionary)
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: 2026-05-02.

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Comparison

Old law
IPC §4
Extension of Code to extra-territorial offences

9[4. Extension of Code to extra-territorial offences.—The provisions of this Code apply also to any offence committed by— 10[(1) any citizen of India in any place without and beyond India;

(2) any person on any ship or aircraft registered in India wherever it may be.] 11[(3) any person in any place without and beyond India committing offence targeting a computer resource located in India.] 12[Explanation.—In this section— (a) the word “offence” includes every act committed outside India which, if committed in India, would be punishable under this Code; 1. The Indian Penal Code has been extended to Berar by the Berar Laws Act, 1941 (4 of 1941) and has been declared in force in— Sonthal Parganas, by the Sonthal Parganas Settlement Regulation 1872 (3 of 1872) s. 2; Panth Piploda, by the Panth Piploda Laws Regulation, 1929 (1 of 1929), s. 2 and the Sch.; Khondmals District, by the Khondmals Laws Regulation, 1936 (4 of 1936), s. 3 and the Sch; and Angul District, by the Angul Laws Regulation, 1936 (5 of 1936), s. 3 and the Sch. It has been declared under s. 3 (a) of the Scheduled Districts Act, 1874 (14 of 1874), to be in force in the following Scheduled Districts, namely: the United Provinces Tarai Districts, see Gazette of India, 1876, Pt. I, p. 505; the Districts of Hazaribagh, Lohardaga [now called the Ranchi District, see Calcutta Gazetta, 1899, Pt. I, p. 44] and Manbhum and Pargana Dhalbhum and the Kolhan in the District of Singhbum—see Gazette of India, 1881, Pt. I, p. 504. It has been extended under s. 5 of the same Act to the Lushai Hills—see Gazette of India, 1898, Pt. II, p. 345. The Act has been extended to Goa, Daman and Diu by Reg. 12 of 1962, s. 3 and Sch; to Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Reg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and Sch. I.; to Pondicherry by Reg. 7 of 1963, s. 3 and Sch. I and to Lakshadweep by Reg. 8 of 1965, s. 3 and Sch. 2. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, s. 3 and the Sch., to read as above. 3. The Original words have successively been amended by Act 12 of 1891, s. 2 and Sch. I, the A.O. 1937, the A.O. 1948 and the A.O. 1950 to read as above. 4. Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, s. 3 and the Sch., for “except Part B States”. 5. The original words “the said territories” have successively been amended by the A.O. 1937, the A.O. 1948, the A.O 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, s. 3 and the Sch., to read as above. 6. The words and figures “on or after the said first day of May, 1861” rep. by Act 12 of 1891, s. 2 and the First Sch. 7. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “law passed by the Governor General of India in Council”. 8. The Original words “the limits of the said territories” have successively been amended by the A.O. 1937, the A.O.1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, s. 3 and the Sch., to read as above. 9. Subs. by Act 4 of 1898, s. 2, for section 4. 10. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for cls.

(1) to (4). 11. Ins. by Act 10 of 2009, s. 51 (w.e.f. 27-10-2009). 12. Subs. by s. 51, ibid., for the Explanation (w.e.f. 27-10-2009). (b) the expression “computer resource” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (k) of sub-section

(1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);] 1[Illustration] 2***A, 3[who is 4[a citizen of India]], commits a murder in Uganda. He can be tried and convicted of of murder in any place in 5[India] in which he may be found. 6* * * * *

New law
BNS §1
Short title, commencement and application

(1) This Act may be called the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Sanhita.

(3) Every person shall be liable to punishment under this Sanhita and not otherwise for every act or omission contrary to the provisions thereof, of which he shall be guilty within India.

(4) Any person liable, by any law for the time being in force in India, to be tried for an offence committed beyond India shall be dealt with according to the provisions of this Sanhita for any act committed beyond India in the same manner as if such act had been committed within India.

(5) The provisions of this Sanhita shall also apply to any offence committed by—
(a) any citizen of India in any place without and beyond India;
(b) any person on any ship or aircraft registered in India wherever it may be;
(c) any person in any place without and beyond India committing offence targeting a computer resource located in India.

(6) Nothing in this Sanhita shall affect the provisions of any Act for punishing mutiny and desertion of officers, soldiers, sailors or airmen in the service of the Government of India or the provisions of any special or local law.

What changedAI-inferred

These three limbs appear in BNS Section 1, sub-clause (5)(a)–(c) without textual change in the clauses. The first Explanation is carried with this Code replaced by this Sanhita. The second Explanation — the cross-reference to section 2(1)(k) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 — is not carried into BNS Section 1, and the term computer resource is not separately defined in BNS Section 2. BNS Section 1 also consolidates material that appeared in IPC Sections 1, 2, 3 and 5 — see those mapping pages for the rest.

Old position

IPC Section 4 extended the Indian Penal Code to certain offences committed outside India. It applied to (a) any citizen of India in any place outside India, (b) any person on a ship or aircraft registered in India wherever it may be, and (c) any person anywhere outside India who committed an offence targeting a computer resource located in India. Two Explanations were attached: the first clarified that offence includes any act that, if committed in India, would be punishable under the Code; the second pointed to the Information Technology Act, 2000 for the meaning of computer resource.

New position

These three limbs appear in BNS Section 1, sub-clause (5)(a)–(c) without textual change in the clauses. The first Explanation is carried with this Code replaced by this Sanhita. The second Explanation — the cross-reference to section 2(1)(k) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 — is not carried into BNS Section 1, and the term computer resource is not separately defined in BNS Section 2. BNS Section 1 also consolidates material that appeared in IPC Sections 1, 2, 3 and 5 — see those mapping pages for the rest.

Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)

The three extra-territorial limbs — citizenship, ship or aircraft registered in India, and offences targeting an Indian computer resource — are carried into BNS 1(5)(a)–(c) without textual change in the clauses. The Explanation stating that offence includes acts committed outside India which would be punishable if committed in India is also carried, with this Code replaced by this Sanhita.

IPC Section 4 also contained an Explanation assigning the term computer resource the meaning given in section 2(1)(k) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. This cross-reference is not carried into BNS Section 1, and the term is not separately defined in BNS Section 2.

Transitional note (repeal & savings)

For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 4 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 1 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 in their existing frame.

Frequently asked

BNS Section 1, sub-clause (5). The three operative limbs — citizens of India abroad; ships and aircraft registered in India; offences targeting an Indian computer resource — carry into BNS 1(5)(a)–(c) without textual change in the clauses.

Sources

Cite this page

Newlaws.in, IPC §4 → BNS §1 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-14, https://newlaws.in/ipc/4.

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.