BNS Section 168: Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman (formerly IPC 140)
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · in force from 1 July 2024
BNS 168: Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman
From 1 July 2024
Whoever, not being a soldier, sailor or airman in the Army, Naval or Air service of the Government of India, wears any garb or carries any token resembling any garb or token used by such a soldier, sailor or airman with the intention that it may be believed that he is such a soldier, sailor or airman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both.
What it replaced in the IPC
BNS 168 ← IPC 140 · Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airmanChanged
BPR&D's comparison records a change. Read what changed before relying on the old wording.
What changed, per BPR&D: “Military” is replaced by "Army." The upper limit of the fine has been increased from five h undred to two thousand rupees.
Printed in both official correspondence tables (BPR&D and NCRB).
Whoever, not being a soldier, [sailor or airman] in the Military, [Naval or Air] service of the [Government of India], wears any garb or carries any token resembling any garb or token used by such a soldier, [sailor or airman] with the intention that it may be believed that he is such a soldier, [sailor or airman], shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
Which one applies
An offence is governed by the law in force when it was committed. An offence committed before 1 July 2024 is charged and punished under the IPC; one committed on or after that date, under the BNS. Section 358 of the BNS, which repeals the IPC, preserves every liability and proceeding already incurred under it.
Read BNS section 358 →Judgments decided under IPC 140
They remain the law on IPC 140. Where the provision changed in the move, read what changed before relying on one for an offence after 1 July 2024.
Sources
- Correspondence Table and Comparison Summary of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 to the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Bureau of Police Research & Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, page 19.
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: bare Act with Corresponding Section Table, National Crime Records Bureau (Sankalan), page 43.
- The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Act 45 of 1860), as amended, India Code, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice.
BPR&D is the Bureau of Police Research & Development (Ministry of Home Affairs); NCRB the National Crime Records Bureau. Their correspondence tables are training aids, not law. This page is general information, not legal advice on any case; the bare Acts as published by the Government of India are the authority.