Indian Penal Code, 1860
IPC Section 338 in BNS
Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others. Section 338 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) corresponds to Section 125(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 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 CrPC & Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Family Law, worth 18 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
An order for maintenance of wives, children and parents is passed under:
Answer & explanation
Section 144 BNSS
This corresponds to Section 125 CrPC. It is a summary secular remedy available irrespective of religion, aimed at preventing vagrancy and destitution.
An order of maintenance for a wife, child or parent is passed under:
Answer & explanation
Section 144 BNSS
Formerly § 125 CrPC. It is a summary, secular remedy and applies irrespective of personal law.
Maintenance under Section 144 BNSS (formerly Section 125 CrPC) is available to:
Answer & explanation
A wife including a divorced wife not remarried, children and parents in need
The remedy is secular and summary, available irrespective of personal law. Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum (1985) held a divorced Muslim woman entitled to claim under it.
Sections either side of it
How the neighbouring provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 were renumbered:
| IPC | Provision | BNS |
|---|---|---|
| 333 | Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty | 121(2) |
| 336 | Act endangering life or personal safety of others | 125 |
| 337 | Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others | 125(a) |
| 339 | Wrongful restraint | 126(1) |
| 340 | Wrongful confinement | 127(1) |
| 341 | Punishment for wrongful restraint | 126(2) |
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 IPC→BNS table