What was BNS 166 in the IPC?

BNS 166: earlier IPC 138

Section 166 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 replaces Section 138 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. BNS 166 deals with abetment of act of insubordination by soldier, sailor or airman. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita came into force on 1 July 2024. Both texts are set out below, side by side, with the changed words marked.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

BNS 166 was IPC 138.

Abetment of act of insubordination by soldier, sailor or airman.

Carried over

97% of the old wording kept

Old · IPC 1860 · Ch. VII

s. 138

Abetment of act of insubordination by soldier, sailor or airman

Whoever abets what he knows to be an act of insubordination by an officer, soldier, ⁸[sailor or airman], in the Army, ⁹[Navy or air Force], of the ¹⁰[Government of India], shall, if such act of insubordination be committed in consequence of that abetment, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.

Text from the official India Code PDF

New · BNS 2023 · Ch. VIII

s. 166

Abetment of act of insubordination by soldier, sailor or airman.

Whoever abets what he knows to be an act of insubordination by an officer, soldier, sailor or airman, in the Army, Navy or Air Force, of the Government of India, shall, if such act of insubordination be committed in consequence of that abetment, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

Text from India Code