Giving False Evidence Under the BNS (Section 229): IPC 193 Mapping (2026)
What giving false evidence means under Section 227 of the BNS, how Section 229 punishes it, the old IPC sections they replace, and the punishment for false evidence in and outside a judicial proceeding. Last verified October 2026.
Explainer · Criminal Law · BNS
Giving false evidence, often called perjury, is defined by Section 227 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) and punished by Section 229. The BNS replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on 1 July 2024. Section 227 carries forward Section 191 of the IPC, and Section 229 carries forward Section 193. False evidence given in a judicial proceeding is punishable with imprisonment up to seven years and a fine up to ten thousand rupees. False evidence in any other case is punishable with imprisonment up to three years and a fine up to five thousand rupees. This explainer sets out what the sections cover, the old-to-new mapping, the punishment and classification, and what changed. Last verified October 2026.
- What it is: giving false evidence, defined in Section 227 BNS (old Section 191 IPC) and punished in Section 229 BNS (old Section 193 IPC).
- In a judicial proceeding: imprisonment up to 7 years and fine up to Rs 10,000.
- In any other case: imprisonment up to 3 years and fine up to Rs 5,000.
- Classification: non-cognizable and bailable, triable by a Magistrate.
01What Sections 227 and 229 of the BNS cover
The BNS splits false evidence into a definition and a punishment, as the old code did.
Section 227: the definition
Section 227 defines giving false evidence. A person gives false evidence if, being legally bound by an oath or by an express provision of law to state the truth, or being bound by law to make a declaration on any subject, they make a statement which is false and which they either know or believe to be false, or do not believe to be true. The statement can be oral or in a declaration. This covers lying on oath in court, and also false statements in affidavits and declarations.
Section 229: the punishment
Section 229 punishes giving or fabricating false evidence. It sets a higher punishment where the false evidence is given in a stage of a judicial proceeding, and a lower one in any other case.
Definition and punishment are separate
Section 227 tells you what giving false evidence is. Section 229 tells you how it is punished. You generally cite them together.
02The old IPC to new BNS mapping
The mapping is a clean carry-over of two linked sections.
| Provision | Old IPC section | New BNS section |
|---|---|---|
| Definition of giving false evidence | Section 191 IPC | Section 227 BNS |
| Punishment for false evidence | Section 193 IPC | Section 229 BNS |
So a person searching for "section 193 ipc in bns" is looking for Section 229 of the BNS, and the definition they rely on is Section 227 (old Section 191 IPC). The giving and fabricating of false evidence are carried over with the same structure.
03Punishment and classification
Section 229 sets two levels of punishment, depending on where the false evidence is given.
- In a judicial proceeding: imprisonment of either description up to seven years, and a fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees.
- In any other case: imprisonment of either description up to three years, and a fine which may extend to five thousand rupees.
On classification, giving false evidence is non-cognizable and bailable. The judicial-proceeding limb is generally triable by a Magistrate of the first class, and the other limb by any Magistrate. An important procedural point carries over from the old law: a court usually cannot take cognizance of certain offences against public justice, including false evidence in a proceeding, except on a complaint by that court or a superior court, so the route to prosecution matters.
04What changed from the old law
For false evidence, the change is mainly renumbering, with one small point to note. The old Sections 191 and 193 of the IPC become Sections 227 and 229 of the BNS, with the definition and the two levels of punishment carried across. The BNS states express fine caps of ten thousand rupees for the judicial-proceeding limb and five thousand rupees for the other limb.
The practical lesson is unchanged: false evidence is a serious matter, and the procedure for starting a perjury case is specific. For the wider picture, see how the BNS changed the IPC and the IPC to BNS section converter.
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.
False evidence cases under Sections 227 and 229 of the BNS often arise out of other proceedings, so you may be tracking the main matter and the perjury complaint together. Claw lets you search and track cases, orders and judgments by section, party or advocate across 9,102 courts, benches and forums, with 30 crore+ judgments and results in under 5 seconds, so you can see how these sections are being read and follow a live matter. Claw does not use customer case documents to train AI models. Create a FREE Claw account to search and track cases under this section by party or advocate name. For the full picture, see case search across Indian courts.
06Sources and further reading
- Ministry of Home Affairs (new criminal laws): mha.gov.in
- India Code (official bare text of the BNS): indiacode.nic.in
- Text of BNS Section 229: devgan.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
This explainer is general information, not legal advice. Always read the section as it stands on the day you act, and take advice from counsel on your facts.
07Frequently asked questions
What is Section 229 of the BNS?
Section 229 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 punishes giving or fabricating false evidence. It carries forward Section 193 of the IPC. The definition of giving false evidence is in Section 227 (old Section 191 IPC), so the two are cited together.
Which IPC sections are now BNS Sections 227 and 229?
The old Section 191 of the IPC (definition of giving false evidence) is now Section 227 of the BNS. The old Section 193 of the IPC (punishment for false evidence) is now Section 229 of the BNS.
What is the punishment for giving false evidence under the BNS?
If the false evidence is given in a judicial proceeding, imprisonment up to seven years and a fine up to ten thousand rupees. In any other case, imprisonment up to three years and a fine up to five thousand rupees.
Is giving false evidence a bailable offence under the BNS?
Yes. Giving false evidence is non-cognizable and bailable. The judicial-proceeding limb is generally triable by a Magistrate of the first class and the other limb by any Magistrate. Confirm the current classification against the First Schedule of the BNSS.
Can anyone file a perjury case directly?
Usually not. For false evidence in a proceeding, a court generally cannot take cognizance except on a complaint by that court or a superior court, a requirement carried over from the old law. So the procedure for starting a perjury case is specific, and you should confirm it before acting.
Can I track a false evidence case in Claw?
Yes. Claw tracks matters across 9,102 courts and forums with automatic updates, cause lists, and WhatsApp and email alerts, and lets you search cases, orders and judgments by section, party or advocate. It tracks the case but does not file it or give legal advice.