Which of the following offenses has been newly and clearly defined under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Answer: Mob Lynching.
Explanation:
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, has replaced the 163-year-old Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860. Several significant changes have been introduced in this new legislation, the most prominent of which is the inclusion of 'mob lynching' as a distinct and specific offense.
Definition (Section 103(2) of BNS): When a group of five or more individuals collectively murders someone on the grounds of race, caste, community, sex, place of birth, language, or personal belief, it is deemed 'Mob Lynching'.
Provision for Punishment: For this offense, a minimum imprisonment of seven years—which may extend to life imprisonment or the death penalty—along with a fine, has been prescribed.
Other Important Facts Related to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS):
Sedition: The offense of 'Sedition' (Section 124A of the IPC) has been abolished under the new law. It has been replaced by Section 152, which penalizes 'acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.'
Community Service: For the first time, 'Community Service' has been introduced as a form of punishment for petty offenses.
Terrorism: In the BNS, 'Terrorism' has been explicitly defined within the framework of general criminal law for the first time.
Hit and Run: The punishment for negligent driving followed by fleeing the scene of an accident has been enhanced to up to 10 years of imprisonment.
Potential Exam Questions and Answers:
Question: From when did the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) come into effect across the entire country?
Answer: From July 1, 2024.
Question: Under which section of the BNS is the punishment for 'Mob Lynching' prescribed?
Answer: Section 103(2).