BNS Section 191: Rioting
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter 11: Of Offences Against the Public Tranquillity
Also available in: हिंदी
¶191. (1) Whenever force or violence is used by an unlawful assembly, or by any member thereof, in prosecution of the common object of such assembly, every member of such assembly is guilty of the offence of rioting.
¶(2) Whoever is guilty of rioting, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
¶(3) Whoever is guilty of rioting, being armed with a deadly weapon or with anything which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.
Study: explanations and related material
Replaces IPC 146, IPC 147, IPC 148. IPC → BNS converterSource: BPR&D BNS–IPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-06-28)
Punishment, bail and trial
191(2)Rioting.
- Punishment
- Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both.
- Cognizable or not
- Cognizable
- Bailable or not
- Bailable
- Triable by
- Any Magistrate
191(3)Rioting, armed with a deadly weapon.
- Punishment
- Imprisonment for 5 years, or fine, or both.
- Cognizable or not
- Cognizable
- Bailable or not
- Bailable
- Triable by
- Magistrate of the first class
Source: BNSS First Schedule, Gazette of India, 25 December 2023, p. 171. 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
- 189. Unlawful assembly
- 190. Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object
- 192. Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot-if rioting be committed; if not committed
- 193. Liability of owner, occupier, etc., of land on which an unlawful assembly or riot takes place
- 194. Affray
- 195. Assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot, etc
- 196. Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony
- 197. Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration