● Modified in BNS
Deliberately and maliciously outraging a class's religious feelings by insulting its religion or religious beliefs carries up to 3 years' imprisonment, or fine, or both under BNS Section 299 -- the offence and its punishment unchanged from IPC 295A, with "or through electronic means" now explicitly named as a mode of commission.
Section 295A IPC punished, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of Indian citizens, insulting or attempting to insult that class's religion or religious beliefs by words, signs, visible representation or otherwise, with imprisonment up to 3 years, or fine, or both.
BNS Section 299 reproduces the offence essentially verbatim, adding "or through electronic means" to the list of modes of commission -- a phrase IPC 295A's text never contained. The "deliberate and malicious intention" requirement and the 3-year maximum term are unchanged.
The offence, its intent requirement, and its punishment are unchanged. The one verified addition is that electronic means are now explicitly named as a mode of commission.
Imprisonment of either description up to 3 years, or fine, or both..
IPC 295A is non-bailable..
This is a cognizable. offence.
Non-compoundable..
Matters under IPC 295A are tried before the Magistrate of the First Class..
Common defences include absence of the specific "deliberate and malicious" intention to outrage religious feelings, and that the statement was a good-faith, historically or academically grounded comment rather than an insult intended to outrage.
Summaries are for general information and are not legal advice. For the authoritative bare-act text, see the official Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Indian Penal Code, 1860 (full amended text, as it stood before repeal) on India Code, or the Ministry of Home Affairs' new criminal laws page. ← All comparisons