BNS Section 62: Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter 4: Of Abetment, Criminal Conspiracy and Attempt
Also available in: हिंदी
¶62. Whoever attempts to commit an offence punishable by this Sanhita with imprisonment for life or imprisonment, or to cause such an offence to be committed, and in such attempt does any act towards the commission of the offence, shall, where no express provision is made by this Sanhita for the punishment of such attempt, be punished with imprisonment of any description provided for the offence, for a term which may extend to one-half of the imprisonment for life or, as the case may be, one-half of the longest term of imprisonment provided for that offence, or with such fine as is provided for the offence, or with both.
¶Illustrations.
(a) A makes an attempt to steal some jewels by breaking open a box, and finds after so opening the box, that there is no jewel in it. He has done an act towards the commission of theft, and therefore is guilty under this section.
¶(b) A makes an attempt to pick the pocket of Z by thrusting his hand into Z’s pocket. A fails in the attempt in consequence of Z’s having nothing in his pocket. A is guilty under this section.
Study: explanations and related material
Replaces IPC 511. IPC → BNS converterSource: BPR&D BNS–IPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-06-28)
Punishment, bail and trial
62Attempting to commit offence punishable with imprisonment for life, or imprisonment, and in such attempt doing any act towards the commission of the offence.
- Punishment
- One half of the imprisonment for life, or imprisonment not exceeding one-half of the longest term, provided for the offence, or fine, or both.
- Cognizable or not
- According as the offence is cognizable or non-cognizable
- Bailable or not
- According as the offence attempted by the offender is bailable or non-bailable
- Triable by
- The court by which the offence attempted is triable
Source: BNSS First Schedule, Gazette of India, 25 December 2023, p. 159. 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
- 45. Abetment of a thing
- 46. Abettor
- 47. Abetment in India of offences outside India
- 48. Abetment outside India for offence in India
- 49. Punishment of abetment if act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment
- 50. Punishment of abetment if person abetted does act with different intention from that of abettor
- 51. Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done
- 52. Abettor when liable to cumulative punishment for act abetted and for act done
- 53. Liability of abettor for an effect caused by act abetted different from that intended by abettor
- 54. Abettor present when offence is committed
- 55. Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
- 56. Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment
- 57. Abetting commission of offence by public or by more than ten persons
- 58. Concealing design to commit offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
- 59. Public servant concealing design to commit offence which it is his duty to prevent
- 60. Concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
- 61. Criminal conspiracy