BNS Section 186: Prohibition of fictitious stamps
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter 10: Of Offences Relating to Coin, Currency-notes, Bank-notes, and - Government Stamps
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¶186. (1) Whoever—
(a) makes, knowingly utters, deals in or sells any fictitious stamp, or knowingly uses for any postal purpose any fictitious stamp; or
(b) has in his possession, without lawful excuse, any fictitious stamp; or
(c) makes or, without lawful excuse, has in his possession any die, plate, instrument or materials for making any fictitious stamp, shall be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
¶(2) Any such stamp, die, plate, instrument or materials in the possession of any person for making any fictitious stamp may be seized and, if seized shall be forfeited.
¶(3) In this section “fictitious stamp” means any stamp falsely purporting to be issued by Government for the purpose of denoting a rate of postage, or any facsimile or imitation or representation, whether on paper or otherwise, of any stamp issued by Government for that purpose.
¶(4) In this section and also in sections 178 to 181 (both inclusive), and sections 183 to 185 (both inclusive) the word “Government”, when used in connection with, or in reference to any stamp issued for the purpose of denoting a rate of postage, shall, notwithstanding anything in clause (12) of section 2, be deemed to include the person or persons authorised by law to administer executive Government in any part of India or in any foreign country.
Study: explanations and related material
Replaces IPC 263A. IPC → BNS converterSource: BPR&D BNS–IPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-06-28)
Punishment, bail and trial
186Fictitious stamps.
- Punishment
- Fine of 200 rupees.
- Cognizable or not
- Cognizable
- Bailable or not
- Bailable
- Triable by
- Any Magistrate
Source: BNSS First Schedule, Gazette of India, 25 December 2023, p. 170. 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
- 178. Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes
- 179. Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
- 180. Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
- 181. Making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
- 182. Making or using documents resembling currency-notes or bank-notes
- 183. Effacing writing from substance bearing Government stamp, or removing from document a stamp used for it, with intent to cause loss to Government
- 184. Using Government stamp known to have been before used
- 185. Erasure of mark denoting that stamp has been used
- 187. Person employed in mint causing coin to be of different weight or composition from that fixed by law
- 188. Unlawfully taking coining instrument from mint