IPC · Chapter VI · Of offences against the State

IPC section 126 in the BNS

IPC 126BNS 154

IPC section 126, “Committing depredation on territories of Power at peace with the Government of India”, is now BNS section 154 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024.

What changed

From IPC 126 to BNS 154

Now BNS section 154. Depredation on the territories of “any foreign State” at peace with India (IPC: “any Power in alliance or at peace”). Same punishment.

The official text

Old and new, side by side

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 126 Committing depredation on territories of Power at peace with the Government of India

Whoever commits depredation, or makes preparations to commit depredation, on the territories of any Power in alliance or at peace with the Government of India, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine and to forfeiture of any property used or intended to be used in committing such depredation, or acquired by such depredation.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Section 154 Committing depredation on territories of foreign State at peace with Government of India

Whoever commits depredation, or makes preparations to commit depredation, on the territories of any foreign State at peace with the Government of India, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine and to forfeiture of any property used or intended to be used in committing such depredation, or acquired by such depredation.

The texts are India Code’s. The amendment markers and footnotes of the official print are left out, so the old section reads as it stood when it was repealed; State amendments are not shown. The PDFs linked below carry the full history.

Old law or new?

Which one applies to a case

The BNS repealed the IPC from 1 July 2024 (section 358(1)). The repeal does not reach back: under section 358(2), penalties and punishments incurred for offences committed against the IPC still stand, and proceedings for them may be started, continued and enforced as if the IPC had not been repealed. An act done before 1 July 2024 is therefore dealt with under the IPC section; an act done on or after that date, under the BNS.