Section 196 in THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023 – BNS

Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.

196. (1) Whoever—
     (a) by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations
     or through electronic communication or otherwise, promotes or attempts to promote,
     on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or
     any other ground whatsoever, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will
     between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or
     communities; or
     (b) commits any act which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between
     different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, and
     which disturbs or is likely to disturb the public tranquillity; or
     (c) organises any exercise, movement, drill or other similar activity intending that
     the participants in such activity shall use or be trained to use criminal force or violence
     or knowing it to be likely that the participants in such activity will use or be trained to
     use criminal force or violence, or participates in such activity intending to use or be
     trained to use criminal force or violence or knowing it to be likely that the participants
     in such activity will use or be trained to use criminal force or violence, against any
     religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community and such activity
     for any reason whatsoever causes or is likely to cause fear or alarm or a feeling of
     insecurity amongst members of such religious, racial, language or regional group or
     caste or community,
     shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with
     both.
     (2) Whoever commits an offence specified in sub-section (1) in any place of worship
     or in any assembly engaged in the performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies,
     shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to five years and shall also be liable
     to fine.