| Title | Sedition | Acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India |
| Definition (Key Phrases) | 'brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law in India.' | 'excites or attempts to excite secession or armed rebellion or subversive activities, or encourages feelings of enmity or hatred among different groups of people, or causes or attempts to cause disaffection towards, the Government established by law with a view to disrupt public order or undermine the security of the State.' |
| Punishment | Life imprisonment + fine, or imprisonment up to 3 years + fine, or fine only. | Life imprisonment + fine, or imprisonment up to 7 years + fine. |
| Judicial Interpretation | Narrowed by Kedar Nath Singh (1962) to require 'incitement to violence' or 'tendency to create public disorder'. | Aims to incorporate the Kedar Nath Singh judgment's spirit by explicitly mentioning 'with a view to disrupt public order or undermine the security of the State'. Also adds 'secession', 'armed rebellion', 'subversive activities' and 'enmity/hatred among groups'. |
| Status (Jan 2026) | In abeyance by Supreme Court order (May 2022); repealed by BNS 2023. | In effect as part of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023. |
| Criticism | Colonial relic, vague, misused to stifle dissent, chilling effect on free speech. | Critics argue it is a re-incarnation of sedition with broader terms like 'subversive activities' and 'enmity among groups', potentially increasing scope for misuse despite explicit public order/security clause. |
