The Official Secrets Act, 1923
An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to official secrets.
Administered by. Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Internal Security · Other Acts of 1923
Preamble
THE OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT, 1923
ACT No. 19 OF 19231
[2nd April, 1923.] An Act to consolidate and amend the law 2 *** relating to official secrets.
3 * * * * *
WHEREAS it is expedient that the law relating to official secrets 2 *** should be consolidated and amended;
It is hereby enacted as follows:--
What this Act covers
Summary of the Official Secrets Act, 1923
Key Features
• Protection of Official Secrets: Prohibits the unauthorised communication, disclosure, or use of official information that may affect national security or public interest.
• Offences Relating to Espionage: Criminalises spying, obtaining, collecting, recording, publishing, or communicating information intended to benefit an enemy or prejudice the security of the State.
• Protection of Prohibited Places: Restricts unauthorised access to or activities in prohibited places connected with defence, military, naval, air force, or other sensitive installations.
• Control over Official Documents: Regulates the possession, retention, transmission, and handling of official documents, sketches, plans, models, notes, photographs, and other classified materials.
• Investigation and Enforcement: Empowers competent authorities to investigate offences and enforce the provisions of the Act.
• Penalties for Violations: Prescribes criminal penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for offences involving espionage, unauthorised disclosure, or misuse of official secrets.
Sections
Type to filter. 16 sections.
- 1Short title, extent and application
- 2Definitions
- 3Penalties for spying
- 4Communications with foreign agents to be evidence of commission of certain offences
- 5Wrongful communication, etc., of information
- 6Unauthorised use of uniforms; falsification of reports, forgery, personation, and falsedocuments
- 7Interfering with officers of the police or members of the Armed Forces of the Union
- 8Duty of giving information as to commission of offences
- 9Attempts, incitements, etc
- 10Penalty for harbouring spies
- 11Search-warrants
- 12Provisions of section 337 of Act 5 of 1898 to apply to offences under sections 3, 5 and 7
- 13Restriction of trial of offences
- 14Exclusion of public from proceedings
- 15Offences by companies
- 16Repealed
Related Acts
- The Madras, Bengal and Bombay Children (Supplementary) Act, 19252 sections
- The Poisons Act, 191910 sections
- The King of Oudh's Estate Validation Act, 19174 sections
- The Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Baronetcy Act, 191530 sections
- The Local Authorities Loans Act, 19149 sections
- The Murshidabad Estate Administration Act, 193328 sections
- The White Phosphorus Matches Prohibition Act, 19136 sections
- The Explosive Substances Act, 19087 sections
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. Every one of the 16 sections of this Act has its own page. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.