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Section181
The Indian Penal Code, 1860

False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorized to administer an oath or affirmation

Repealed From 01 Jan 1862 Act 45 of 1860 As on 18 Oct 2026

Act 45 of 1860 Ministry Home Affairs Enacted 06 Oct 1860 In force 01 Jan 1862

This provision is repealed. Repealed by section 358 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024. It is reproduced because conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under it.

Section 181 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 deals with false statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorized to administer an oath or affirmation. Whoever, being legally bound by an oath [or affirmation] to state the truth on any subject to any public servant or other person authorized by law to administer such oath [or affirmation], makes, to such public servant or other person as aforesaid, touching that subject, any statement which is false The Act came into force on 01 Jan 1862. Repealed by section 358 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024, but conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under it.

Whoever, being legally bound by an oath [or affirmation] to state the truth on any subject to any public servant or other person authorized by law to administer such oath [or affirmation], makes, to such public servant or other person as aforesaid, touching that subject, any statement which is false, and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Section 181, The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Act 45 of 1860).

Now in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

BNS 216 False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorised to administer an oath or affirmation Text carried over almost unchanged 94%

Measured by comparing the text of the two provisions, not taken from an official correspondence table — there is no machine-readable one. See both texts side by side before relying on it.

Both regimes are live. The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force. We never redirect one to the other.

Questions about Section 181

What does Section 181 of the Indian Penal Code deal with?

Section 181 of the Indian Penal Code is headed "False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorized to administer an oath or affirmation". Whoever, being legally bound by an oath [or affirmation] to state the truth on any subject to any public servant or other person authorized by law to administer such oath [or affirmation], makes, to such public servant or other person as aforesaid, touching that subject, any statement which is false

How do I find court cases under Section 181 of the Indian Penal Code?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: IPC 181, section 181 IPC, section 181 of the Indian Penal Code. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

What should I read with Section 181 of the Indian Penal Code, and has it changed?

For anything done on or after 1 July 2024 the provision to read is BNS 216 (False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorised to administer an oath or affirmation), which replaced it; conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under this section.

When did Section 181 of the Indian Penal Code come into force?

Section 181 of the Indian Penal Code, cited as IPC 181, came into force on 01 Jan 1862, having been enacted on 06 Oct 1860. It is no longer in force.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Recovered from the consolidated text published by India Code (item 7b7d4fe6-206b-4e33-81f1-b98b018acaf6). This page is not a substitute for legal advice.