BNS Chapter V — Offences Against Women and Children
BNS Sections 63 to 99 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Introduction
Chapter V of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita covers offences against women and children, including sexual offences, cruelty, exploitation and child abuse. These provisions are aimed at protecting vulnerable persons and providing penalties for offenders.
BNS Sections Covered
| BNS Section | Title | Short description |
|---|---|---|
| 63 | Rape | Defines rape under BNS. |
| 64 | Punishment for rape | Specifies penalties for rape. |
| 65 | Punishment for rape in certain cases | Special punishments for aggravated rape cases. |
| 66 | Punishment for causing death or vegetative state | When rape causes death or permanent injury. |
| 67 | Sexual intercourse during separation/authority | Rape by husband during separation or by authority figures. |
| 68 | Sexual intercourse by a person in authority | Criminalises misuse of authority for intercourse. |
| 69 | Intercourse by deceitful means | Includes deceit or misrepresentation for intercourse. |
| 70 | Gang rape | Defines and punishes gang rape. |
| 71 | Punishment for repeat offenders | Stricter penalties for repeat offenders. |
| 72 | Disclosure of identity of victim | Protects victim’s identity. |
| 73 | Printing or publishing court proceedings without permission | Restricts publishing without permission. |
| 74 | Assault to outrage modesty | Criminalises assault with intent to outrage modesty. |
| 75 | Sexual harassment | Defines harassment and punishment. |
| 76 | Assault with intent to disrobe | Assault or force to remove clothes is criminalised. |
| 77 | Voyeurism | Punishment for voyeurism. |
| 78 | Stalking | Punishment for stalking a woman. |
| 79 | Insulting modesty | Prohibits words/acts insulting modesty of women. |
| 80 | Dowry death | Punishment for dowry death. |
| 81 | Cohabitation by deceit | Fraudulent cohabitation under false marriage. |
| 82 | Marrying again during spouse’s lifetime | Prohibits bigamy. |
| 83 | Fraudulent marriage ceremony | Marriage without lawful validity. |
| 84 | Enticing, taking away or detaining married woman | Detaining married woman with criminal intent. |
| 85 | Cruelty by husband or relatives | Punishment for cruelty towards women. |
| 86 | Cruelty defined | Defines cruelty under law. |
| 87 | Kidnapping/abducting woman to compel marriage | Offence of kidnapping woman to force marriage. |
| 88 | Causing miscarriage | Punishes causing miscarriage. |
| 89 | Causing miscarriage without consent | Serious penalties for forced miscarriage. |
| 90 | Death caused by act to cause miscarriage | When death results from miscarriage act. |
| 91 | Act to prevent child being born alive | Offence to prevent live birth of child. |
| 92 | Causing death of quick unborn child | Defined as culpable homicide. |
| 93 | Exposure or abandonment of child | Parent/caretaker abandoning child under 12 years. |
| 94 | Concealment of birth | Secret disposal of dead body to conceal birth. |
| 95 | Employing child to commit offence | Using children in criminal activity. |
| 96 | Procuration of child | Offence of procuring children. |
| 97 | Kidnapping or abducting child | Kidnapping children under 10 for theft or other purposes. |
| 98 | Selling child for prostitution | Selling child for sexual exploitation. |
| 99 | Buying child for prostitution | Buying child for sexual exploitation. |
Conclusion
Chapter V (BNS Sections 63–99) lists crimes that harm women and children and sets punishments to protect them. It covers sexual offences, cruelty, exploitation, and child abuse. The goal is to keep women and children safe and to hold offenders responsible.