BNS Section 152: Act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter 7: Of Offences Against the State
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¶152. Whoever, purposely or knowingly, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or by electronic communication or by use of financial mean, or otherwise, excites or attempts to excite, secession or armed rebellion or subversive activities, or encourages feelings of separatist activities or endangers sovereignty or unity and integrity of India; or indulges in or commits any such act shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
¶Explanation.––Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures, or administrative or other action of the Government with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means without exciting or attempting to excite the activities referred to in this section do not constitute an offence under this section.
Study: explanations and related material
Punishment, bail and trial
152Act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
- Punishment
- Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 7 years and fine.
- Cognizable or not
- Cognizable
- Bailable or not
- Non‑bailable
- Triable by
- Court of Session
Source: BNSS First Schedule, Gazette of India, 25 December 2023, p. 168. The Schedule gives the substance of the section, not its full definition, and a State may have amended the classification for its territory. See it in the full First Schedule
Official reference: Ministry of Home Affairs: Gazette text, 25 December 2023 — source link checked: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2024-07-01.Mobile-app reference import; the recorded snapshot date is not a fresh legal-currency guarantee. The linked government text is an independent authoritative reference, not certification that this website reproduces the same edition. The source link was checked, not every provision or subsequent amendment. Check commencement notifications, savings and jurisdiction-specific variations separately.
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 147. Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against Government of India
- 148. Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 147
- 149. Collecting arms, etc., with intention of waging war against Government of India
- 150. Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war
- 151. Assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain exercise of any lawful power
- 153. Waging war against Government of any foreign State at peace with the Government of India
- 154. Committing depredation on territories of foreign State at peace with the Government of India
- 155. Receiving property taken by war or depredation mentioned in sections 153 and 154
- 156. Public servant voluntarily allowing a prisoner of State or war to escape
- 157. Public servant negligently suffering such a prisoner to escape
- 158. Aiding escape of, rescuing or harbouring such a prisoner