Indian Evidence Act, 1872
IEA Section 74 in BSA
Public documents. Section 74 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (Public documents) corresponds to Section 74 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023.
Verify before you rely on this. Renumbering under the 2023 codes is not a clean one-to-one exercise — provisions were merged, split and reworded. Always check the printed bare act.
Where this sits in the exam
This provision is examined under Evidence Act & Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, worth 8 of the 100 marks in AIBE XXII. The paper permits bare acts but bans notes, so what matters is finding it quickly, not reciting the number.
Questions that turn on this section
A public document includes:
Answer & explanation
Records of the acts of sovereign authority and public officers
BSA Section 74 corresponds to IEA Section 74. Public documents may be proved by certified copies; all other documents are private documents.
Sections either side of it
How the neighbouring provisions of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 were renumbered:
| IEA | Provision | BSA |
|---|---|---|
| 65B | Admissibility of electronic records | 63 |
| 67 | Proof of signature and handwriting of person alleged to have signed | 64 |
| 68 | Proof of execution of document required by law to be attested | 67 |
| 76 | Certified copies of public documents | 75 |
| 91 | Evidence of terms of contracts, grants and other dispositions of property | 94 |
| 92 | Exclusion of evidence of oral agreement | 95 |
Practise it
Cutoff has AIBE XXII questions on this area, each cited to both codes with a line telling you where to find it in the bare act. Ten questions per subject are free, no account needed.
Practise free Full IEA→BSA table