BNS sections 100–113 cover the core of lethal violence and three new general-code crimes that the IPC did not carry as such: organised crime, petty organised crime and terrorist act.
Culpable homicide and murder
Section 100 defines culpable homicide (IPC 299). Section 101 defines murder (IPC 300)—the classic “when culpable homicide is murder” structure with exceptions. Section 102 covers death of a person other than the one intended (IPC 301).
Section 103 is the punishment for murder. This is the single most important citation change in Indian criminal practice: the IPC’s section 302 is not the BNS murder-punishment number. Section 103 retains death or imprisonment for life and fine, and adds a group murder limb: murder by a group of five or more persons acting in concert on grounds such as race, caste, community, sex, place of birth or language. Commentary often describes this as the code’s response to mob lynching–type facts, without using that phrase as a defined term of art in every textbook.
Section 104 replaces the old mandatory death sentence for murder by a life convict (IPC 303) with death or life imprisonment, clarifying that life means the remainder of natural life in the statutory formulation.
Culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence
Section 105 punishes culpable homicide not amounting to murder (IPC 304). The intention limb carries a minimum term of five years where the BNS text so provides—IPC 304 historically had no such floor on that limb.
Section 106 (death by negligence) succeeds IPC 304A but raises the ordinary maximum and adds a hit-and-run style limb for certain driving cases with a higher ceiling (up to ten years in the aggravated formulation). This is one of the highest-volume trial-court transitions after theft and hurt.
Suicide, attempts and the new organised-crime cluster
Sections 107–108 cover abetment of suicide of a child or person of unsound mind and abetment of suicide generally (IPC 305–306), with “child” language replacing some age phrases. Sections 109–110 cover attempt to murder and attempt to commit culpable homicide (IPC 307–308), consolidating life-convict attempt rules in places.
Section 111 defines and punishes organised crime—continuing unlawful activity by individuals acting in concert as a syndicate, with graded penalties including life or death when death results, and heavy fines. Section 112 covers petty organised crime (group theft, snatching-type continuing activity and similar low-end organised wrongs as defined). Section 113 defines a terrorist act inside the general penal code, overlapping policy space with special statutes such as the UAPA; charging theory must keep the elements of section 113 and special-law offences distinct.
Search and examination anchors
- Murder punishment → BNS 103, never 302.
- Negligent death / hit-and-run driving → BNS 106.
- New syndicate offences → 111–113.
- Definitions of homicide → 100–101, still doctrinally close to 299–300.
Selected provisions
BNS section 103 (IPC 302)
Punishment for murder. Keeps death/life + fine; adds group murder (5+) on race/caste/community/sex etc.
BNS section 104 (IPC 303)
Punishment for murder by life-convict. Replaces mandatory death with death or life imprisonment, clarifying life means natural life.
BNS section 105 (IPC 304)
Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Intent limb now has minimum 5 years (IPC 304 had no floor).
BNS section 106 (IPC 304A)
Causing death by negligence. Max 5 years (IPC 304A: 2); new hit-and-run driving limb up to 10 years.
BNS section 107 (IPC 305)
Abetment of suicide of child or person of unsound mind. Replaces “person under eighteen” with “child”; adds “delirious person” to protected categories.
BNS section 109 (IPC 307)
Attempt to murder. Consolidates IPC 307 and life-convict attempts; adds fine and clarifies life imprisonment if hurt is caused.
Section-level changes
Material differences (definition, punishment, scope or new offence):
| BNS | IPC counterpart | Subject | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 103 | IPC 302 | Punishment for murder | Keeps death/life + fine; adds group murder (5+) on race/caste/community/sex etc. |
| 104 | IPC 303 | Punishment for murder by life-convict | Replaces mandatory death with death or life imprisonment, clarifying life means natural life. |
| 105 | IPC 304 | Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder | Intent limb now has minimum 5 years (IPC 304 had no floor). |
| 106 | IPC 304A | Causing death by negligence | Max 5 years (IPC 304A: 2); new hit-and-run driving limb up to 10 years. |
| 107 | IPC 305 | Abetment of suicide of child or person of unsound mind | Replaces “person under eighteen” with “child”; adds “delirious person” to protected categories. |
| 109 | IPC 307 | Attempt to murder | Consolidates IPC 307 and life-convict attempts; adds fine and clarifies life imprisonment if hurt is caused. |
| 110 | IPC 308 | Attempt to commit culpable homicide | Keeps three-year base and seven-year enhanced punishment if hurt is caused. |
| 111 | — | Organised crime | New: organised crime (syndicate / continuing unlawful activity). |
| 112 | — | Petty organised crime | New: petty organised crime by group/gang - 1-7 years + fine. |
| 113 | — | Terrorist act | New: terrorist act in the general code. |
Citation map (renumbered only)
These provisions keep IPC substance under new numbers:
BNS 100 ← IPC 299, BNS 101 ← IPC 300, BNS 102 ← IPC 301, BNS 108 ← IPC 306.