Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
BNS Section 178
Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes
In one line
BNS Section 178 deals with counterfeiting coin, government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes and replaces IPC 230 to 232, 246 to 249, 255, 489A.
Punishment, bail and court
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 178 | Counterfeiting coins, government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes. | Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine. | Cognizable. | Non-bailable. | Court of Session. |
Source: First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The punishment column is the Schedule’s summary; the section text below is what prescribes the punishment. Classification decides procedure (arrest, bail as of right, which court), not the result of any particular case.
Bare act text — BNS 178
178. Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes.
Whoever counterfeits, or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting, any coin, stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, currency-note or bank-note, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. Explanation.—For the purposes of this Chapter,—
(1) the expression “bank-note” means a promissory note or engagement for the payment of money to bearer on demand issued by any person carrying on the business of banking in any part of the world, or issued by or under the authority of any State or Sovereign Power, and intended to be used as equivalent to, or as a substitute for money;
(2) “coin” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in section 2 of the Coinage Act, 2011 (11 of 2011) and includes metal used for the time being as money and is stamped and issued by or under the authority of any State or Sovereign Power intended to be so used;
(3) a person commits the offence of “counterfeiting Government stamp” who counterfeits by causing a genuine stamp of one denomination to appear like a genuine stamp of a different denomination;
(4) a person commits the offence of counterfeiting coin who intending to practise deception, or knowing it to be likely that deception will thereby be practised, causes a genuine coin to appear like a different coin; and
(5) the offence of “counterfeiting coin” includes diminishing the weight or alteration of the composition, or alteration of the appearance of the coin.
What changed from the IPC
- IPC 230 to 232, 246 to 249, 255, 489A → BNS 178: Nine sections of IPC have been covered in this single section of BNS.
- IPC 230 to 232, 246 to 249, 255, 489A → BNS 178: Thus, in a single stroke, the number of sections and offences has been reduced by eight.
- IPC 230 to 232, 246 to 249, 255, 489A → BNS 178: Illustrations given u/s 230 IPC are excluded.
Frequently asked
What was BNS Section 178 in the IPC?
BNS Section 178 (Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes) replaces Section 230 to 232, 246 to 249, 255, 489A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. IPC 230 to 232, 246 to 249, 255, 489A is now BNS 178.
What is the punishment under BNS 178?
Counterfeiting coins, government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes – punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. Under the First Schedule to the BNSS, 2023 it is cognizable and non-bailable, triable by court of Session.
Is BNS 178 bailable?
Non-bailable: BNS 178. Bail in a non-bailable offence is at the court's discretion; the classification decides procedure, not the outcome of a particular bail application.
Still citing the IPC? Convert any old section in seconds, or keep the whole case — dates, clients and sections — in one diary.
Nearby BNS sections
- BNS 173 — Punishment for bribery
- BNS 174 — Punishment for undue influence or personation at an election
- BNS 175 — False statement in connection with an election
- BNS 176 — Illegal payments in connection with an election
- BNS 177 — Failure to keep election accounts
- BNS 179 — Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank- notes
- BNS 180 — Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank- notes
- BNS 181 — Making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
- BNS 182 — Making or using documents resembling currency-notes or bank-notes
- BNS 183 — Effacing writing from substance bearing Government stamp, or removing from document a stamp used for it, with intent to cause loss to Government