IPC to BNS
IPC Section 377 in BNS: no corresponding section
Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Unnatural offences) has no corresponding section in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Last updated 9 October 2026
IPC 377 and the BNS at a glance
| IPC (old) | BNS (new) | |
|---|---|---|
| Section | 377 | None |
| Heading | Unnatural offences | No corresponding provision |
| Punishment | Imprisonment for life, or up to 10 years, and fine. | Not applicable. The BNS has no corresponding provision. |
| Mapping | Not re-enacted | |
What IPC Section 377 covered
Punished carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal. In Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018) the Supreme Court read it down so that it no longer applied to consensual acts between adults.
What applies now under the BNS
Section 377 has no counterpart in the BNS. Non-consensual acts against women continue to be covered by the rape provisions; the BNS does not contain an equivalent offence for non-consensual acts against men or for bestiality.
Which law applies: IPC or BNS?
The BNS applies to offences committed on or after 1 July 2024. An offence committed before that date continues to be investigated, tried and punished under the IPC, because the repeal and savings clause in Section 358 of the BNS preserves liabilities and proceedings under the repealed Code.
Read the full text of both provisions before you cite them. The official bare acts are published on India Code.
IPC 377: common questions
What is the new section for IPC 377?
There is none. IPC Section 377 (Unnatural offences) was not re-enacted in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Section 377 has no counterpart in the BNS. Non-consensual acts against women continue to be covered by the rape provisions; the BNS does not contain an equivalent offence for non-consensual acts against men or for bestiality.
Does IPC Section 377 still apply to older cases?
The BNS applies to offences committed on or after 1 July 2024. An offence committed before that date continues to be investigated, tried and punished under the IPC, because the repeal and savings clause in Section 358 of the BNS preserves liabilities and proceedings under the repealed Code.
Related IPC sections
- IPC 376D to BNS 70(1) · Gang rape
- IPC 376AB to BNS 65(2) · Rape of child under 12
- IPC 376A to BNS 66 · Rape causing death
- IPC 376 to BNS 64 · Punishment for rape
- IPC 375 to BNS 63 · Rape (definition)
Map any section inside Settl
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Not legal advice. This comparison is a research starting point. A mapped section is not proof that two provisions are identical. Read both bare acts, check commencement and any later amendment, and have a qualified advocate review anything you intend to rely on. Settl is not a law firm.