BNS Chapter III: General Exceptions

In short: Chapter III of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 covers general exceptions. It contains 31 sections (sections 14 to 44). The BNS replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860 from 1 July 2024; the old IPC number is shown against each section. Part of our BNS index.

हिंदी में: भारतीय न्याय संहिता, 2023 का अध्याय III (साधारण अपवाद) — धारा 14 से 44 तक। हर धारा के सामने पुरानी IPC धारा दी गई है।

All sections of BNS Chapter III (Sections 14 to 44)

Section	Title	Old IPC	Cognizable / bailable	What it covers
14	Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by law	76	—	No offence where a person acts because the law binds him to, or by a mistake of fact believes it does.
15	Act of Judge when acting judicially	77	—	No offence by a judge acting judicially in good faith.
16	Act done pursuant to the judgment or order of Court	78	—	No offence in acts done under a judgment or order of a court.
17	Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law	79	—	No offence where a person acts because the law justifies it, or by mistake of fact believes it does.
18	Accident in doing a lawful act	80	—	No offence in an accident or misfortune while doing a lawful act with proper care.
19	Act likely to cause harm, but done without criminal intent, and to prevent other harm	81	—	No offence in an act likely to cause harm, done in good faith without criminal intent to prevent other harm.
20	Act of a child under seven years of age	82	—	Nothing done by a child under seven years is an offence.
21	Act of a child above seven and under twelve of immature understanding	83	—	No offence by a child between seven and twelve who has not understood the nature of the act.
22	Act of a person of unsound mind	84	—	No offence by a person who, because of unsoundness of mind, cannot know the nature of the act or that it is wrong.
23	Act of a person incapable of judgment by reason of intoxication caused against his will	85	—	No offence by a person intoxicated against his will who cannot understand the nature of the act.
24	Offence requiring a particular intent or knowledge committed by one who is intoxicated	86	—	A person voluntarily intoxicated is treated as having the knowledge he would have had if sober.
25	Act not intended and not known to be likely to cause death or grievous hurt, done by consent	87	—	No offence in harm caused to a consenting adult where death or grievous hurt was neither intended nor known to be likely.
26	Act not intended to cause death, done by consent in good faith for person’s benefit	88	—	No offence in an act done in good faith with consent for a person’s benefit, such as a surgery, without intent to cause death.
27	Act done in good faith for benefit of child or person of unsound mind, by or by consent of guardian	89	—	No offence in acts done in good faith for the benefit of a child or person of unsound mind by or with the guardian’s consent.
28	Consent known to be given under fear or misconception	90	—	Consent is not valid if given under fear, misconception, unsoundness of mind, intoxication or by a child under twelve.
29	Exclusion of acts which are offences independently of harm caused	91	—	The consent exceptions do not cover acts that are offences regardless of the harm they cause.
30	Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent	92	—	No offence in an act done in good faith for a person’s benefit without consent where consent cannot be obtained in time.
31	Communication made in good faith	93	—	No offence in information given in good faith for a person’s benefit, even if it causes harm.
32	Act to which a person is compelled by threats	94	—	No offence (except murder and offences against the State) where a person is compelled by threats of instant death.
33	Act causing slight harm	95	—	No offence where the harm is so slight that no person of ordinary sense would complain.
34	Things done in private defence	96	—	Nothing done in the exercise of the right of private defence is an offence.
35	Right of private defence of the body and of property	97	—	Every person has a right to defend his own or another’s body and property, within limits.
36	Right of private defence against the act of a person of unsound mind, etc.	98	—	The right of private defence also applies against a person who is not criminally responsible, such as a child or person of unsound mind.
37	Acts against which there is no right of private defence	99	—	Limits on private defence: none against lawful acts of public servants in good faith, none where there is time to seek protection, and no more harm than necessary.
38	When the right of private defence of the body extends to causing death	100	—	When private defence of the body can extend to causing death, such as against an assault threatening death, rape or acid attack.
39	When such right extends to causing any harm other than death	101	—	In other cases, private defence of the body extends to any harm short of death.
40	Commencement and continuance of the right of private defence of the body	102	—	When the right of private defence of the body begins and how long it lasts.
41	When the right of private defence of property extends to causing death	103	—	When private defence of property can extend to causing death, such as against robbery, house-breaking at night or arson.
42	When such right extends to causing any harm other than death	104	—	In other cases, private defence of property extends to any harm short of death.
43	Commencement and continuance of the right of private defence of property	105	—	When the right of private defence of property begins and how long it lasts.
44	Right of private defence against deadly assault when there is risk of harm to innocent person	106	—	Right of private defence against a deadly assault even where there is a risk of harm to an innocent person.

Looking for an old section number? Use the IPC to BNS converter or check whether an offence is bailable with the BNS bailable offence checker.

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Prepared by Adv. Mridul Jindal, Law Chambers of Mridul Jindal, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. Last updated 11 November 2026. Summaries are in plain English for general information and are not the text of the law or legal advice; always read the official text on India Code. Disclaimer.