IPC to BNS Section Converter: the Most-Searched Mappings (2026)
A practical, verified lookup list of the most-searched IPC sections and their new BNS equivalents, so you can convert an old section number to the new code in seconds. Last verified October 2026.
Explainer · IPC to BNS · Converter
You have an old FIR, a precedent, or a client who keeps saying "my 420 case", and you need the new number fast. Since 1 July 2024 the Indian Penal Code has been replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the section numbers everyone memorised have moved. This page is a converter: a verified lookup of the most-searched IPC sections and their BNS equivalents, with a short note on where a mapping is not one to one. Last verified October 2026.
- Most-used swaps: 302 to 103, 420 to 318(4), 376 to 64, 498A to 85, 379 to 303, 406 to 316, 506 to 351.
- Conspiracy and modesty: 120B to 61, 354 to 74.
- Sedition: 124A was repealed; BNS 152 is a different offence, not a straight swap.
- Always: read the full BNS section, because wording and punishment can differ.
- Searching both: Claw searches 30 crore+ judgments by old or new section across 9,102 forums.
01Why you need a converter
For over a century, Indian criminal practice ran on IPC numbers. The numbers were a shared language: 302 for murder, 420 for cheating, 376 for rape, 498A for cruelty. Clients, police, and courts all spoke it.
From 1 July 2024, the BNS replaced the IPC and the numbers changed. During the long transition, old cases keep their IPC numbers while new cases use BNS numbers, so you constantly need to translate between the two, both to draft correctly and to search case law under both. A reliable converter saves time and avoids the embarrassment of citing a repealed number in a fresh matter. For the wider reform, see the new criminal laws overview.
02How to read the mapping
Three things will help you use the list safely.
- Same crime, new number. In most rows the offence and its ingredients carry over, and only the number changed.
- Some sit inside a larger section. For example, cheating with delivery of property (the old 420) is a sub-section of BNS 318, shown as 318(4).
- A few are not straight swaps. Sedition was repealed and replaced by a different offence, so treat it as new. These are flagged below.
Always open the full BNS section before you rely on it, because wording and punishment can differ even where the number maps cleanly. For a deeper comparison, see BNS vs IPC key changes.
03The most-searched IPC to BNS mappings
Each row below has been checked against the published BNS text. Sub-sections are shown where the offence sits inside a larger section.
| IPC (old) | Offence | BNS (new) | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| 302 | Murder | 103 | BNS 103 |
| 304 | Culpable homicide not amounting to murder | 105 | BNS 105 |
| 304A | Death by negligence | 106 | BNS 106 |
| 304B | Dowry death | 80 | BNS 80 |
| 306 | Abetment of suicide | 108 | BNS 108 |
| 307 | Attempt to murder | 109 | BNS 109 |
| 323 | Voluntarily causing hurt | 115 (punishment in 115(2)) | BNS 115 |
| 354 | Assault to outrage a woman’s modesty | 74 | BNS 74 |
| 376 | Rape (punishment) | 64 (definition in 63) | BNS 63 and 64 |
| 379 | Theft | 303 (punishment in 303(2)) | BNS 303 |
| 392 | Robbery | 309 | BNS 309 |
| 406 | Criminal breach of trust | 316 | BNS 316 |
| 420 | Cheating and inducing delivery of property | 318 (specifically 318(4)) | BNS 318 |
| 498A | Cruelty by husband or relatives | 85 (cruelty defined in 86) | BNS 85 |
| 500 | Defamation (punishment) | 356 (punishment in 356(2)) | BNS 356 |
| 506 | Criminal intimidation | 351 (punishment in 351(2) and (3)) | BNS 351 |
| 120B | Criminal conspiracy | 61 | BNS 61 |
| 124A | Sedition (repealed; replaced) | 152 | BNS 152 |
04Mappings that are not one to one
Most rows are clean swaps, but a few need care.
Sedition (124A)
The old sedition offence was repealed, not renumbered. BNS Section 152 creates a different offence about acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. Do not treat it as plain sedition.
Offences inside a larger section
Cheating (420) sits inside BNS 318 as a sub-section. Rape splits into a definition (63) and punishment (64). Hurt, theft, and defamation keep the punishment in a sub-section. Cite the sub-section, not just the section.
Dropped and new offences
A few IPC offences were dropped, and the BNS added new ones (organised crime, terrorism, snatching, mob lynching) that have no exact IPC number. A converter cannot map what did not exist before, so check the BNS directly for these.
Procedure and evidence changed too. For the CrPC and Evidence Act mappings, see BNSS vs CrPC and BSA vs the Evidence Act. For which code applies to an old case, see will old IPC and CrPC cases continue.
A converter gets you to the right section fast. Reading that section is what keeps you right.
05Where Claw fits
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
Once you have the new section, the next job is usually to find case law and track the matter. Claw is built for both. You can search 30 crore+ judgments by section, party or advocate, with results in under 5 seconds, so you can search IPC 420 and BNS 318 together and not miss authority built up under the old number. You can also track live cases across 9,102 courts, benches and forums, with automatic updates, cause lists, and WhatsApp and email alerts.
Try it
Create a FREE Claw account to search and track cases under this section by party or advocate name.
Claw does not give legal advice and does not use customer case documents to train AI models. See also case search across Indian courts.
06Sources and further reading
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (India Code): indiacode.nic.in
- Ministry of Home Affairs: mha.gov.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
This converter is general information, not legal advice. A mapping is a starting point, not a substitute for reading the current text of the BNS section. Check the official text and take advice from counsel for any specific case.
07Frequently asked questions
What is IPC 302 in the BNS?
Murder, the old IPC Section 302, is now Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The offence and punishment are substantially the same, with the number changed from 1 July 2024.
What is the new BNS section for 420?
Cheating is under BNS Section 318, and cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, the old IPC 420, falls under Section 318(4). Cite the sub-section, not just 318.
Is there a direct BNS section for sedition (124A)?
No. Sedition under IPC 124A was repealed. BNS Section 152 creates a different offence about acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, so it is not a like-for-like conversion.
Are these mappings one to one?
Mostly yes, but several offences sit inside a larger section (for example 420 as 318(4) and rape split into 63 and 64), and a few were dropped or newly added. Always read the BNS section to confirm the ingredients and punishment.
Do old IPC numbers still matter?
Yes. Offences before 1 July 2024 continue under the IPC, and case law built under the IPC remains important. You need to work with both numbering systems during the transition.
How do I search judgments under both the IPC and BNS numbers?
Search the old section and its BNS equivalent together. Claw lets you search 30 crore+ judgments by section, party, or advocate across 9,102 courts and forums, with results in under 5 seconds.