BNS Section 299: Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter 16: Of Offences Relating to Religion
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¶299. Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens of India, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic means or otherwise, insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
Study: explanations and related material
Replaces IPC 295A. IPC → BNS converterSource: BPR&D BNS–IPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-06-28)
Punishment, bail and trial
299Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.
- Punishment
- Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both.
- Cognizable or not
- Cognizable
- Bailable or not
- Non‑bailable
- Triable by
- Magistrate of the first class
Source: BNSS First Schedule, Gazette of India, 25 December 2023, p. 181. 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.