Section 4: Punishments

Corresponding IPC provision

As given in the correspondence table of the National Crime Records Bureau (Ministry of Home Affairs). Read both texts before relying on it. NCRB table

Leading cases

• Union of India v. V. Sriharan (2015)Decided on IPC section 53Life imprisonment means imprisonment for the rest of the convict's life; by majority, constitutional courts may substitute death with a term beyond 14 years or whole life without remission; Section 435(1) consultation means concurrence.

Questions on this section

5 questions in 8 of our papers cite Section 4. Try these from the free papers:

1. 1. Assertion (A): Community service is one of the punishments to which offenders are liable under Section 4 of the BNS. Reason (R): Under the BNS, a court may award community service in place of imprisonment for any offence.

   A.Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of AB.Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of AC.A is true, but R is falseD.A is false, but R is true
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2. 2. With reference to the directions in Union of India v. Chidiebere Kingsley Nawchara (17 August 2026), consider the following statements: 1. An accused foreign national must produce two sureties, though the court may relax this by a written order recording reasons. 2. Verification of sureties is to be completed within three days and the report placed before the trial court before the accused is released. 3. The Court directed that a Form-47A be inserted after Form 47 of the BNSS. 4. The Court directed the immediate introduction of a system of professional bail bondsmen for foreign nationals. Which of the statements given above are correct?

   A.1, 2 and 3 onlyB.2, 3 and 4 onlyC.1, 2, 3 and 4D.1 and 2 only
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