IPC Section 247: Altering Weight or Composition of Indian Coin - Current BNS Law
Section 247 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 addressed fraudulent or dishonest reduction in the weight of an Indian coin or alteration of its composition. For conduct after the new criminal law came into force on 1 July 2024, the relevant counterfeiting provision is Section 178 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
What did IPC Section 247 provide?
The former Section 247 punished a person who fraudulently or dishonestly performed an operation on an Indian coin that diminished its weight or altered its composition. The punishment was imprisonment of either description for a term extending to seven years, and liability to a fine.
The provision was specifically concerned with Indian coin. It differed from former IPC Section 246, which addressed alteration of a coin more generally and carried a maximum of three years' imprisonment and fine.
Current law: BNS Section 178
Section 178, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 is titled Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes. It punishes counterfeiting or knowingly performing any part of the counterfeiting process. Its Explanation (5) expressly includes diminishing a coin's weight, altering its composition, or altering its appearance within the offence of counterfeiting coin.
Explanation (4) addresses making a genuine coin appear like a different coin with intent to deceive, or knowing that deception is likely. Explanation (2) adopts the definition of coin from Section 2 of the Coinage Act, 2011 and includes certain metal money issued under the authority of a State or Sovereign Power.
Where the elements of Section 178 are established, the punishment is imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description up to ten years, and fine. This is not merely a renumbering of IPC Section 247: the BNS provision has broader coverage and a different punishment framework.
Essential ingredients and examples
- Coin and alteration: The conduct must concern a coin and involve the counterfeiting activity covered by the provision, including diminishing weight or changing composition.
- Knowledge and intent: The prosecution must establish the relevant mental element and knowing participation in the counterfeiting process; innocent accidental damage to a coin is not automatically counterfeiting.
- Proof: The coin, evidence of alteration, forensic findings where necessary, and circumstances showing knowledge or deceptive purpose may be relevant.
Illustration: A person deliberately removes metal from genuine coins to pass the altered coins in transactions as if they were genuine and unaltered. Such conduct may attract Section 178 if the statutory ingredients are proved. Ordinary wear and tear, without criminal intent or knowing counterfeiting conduct, is different.
IPC Section 247 and BNS Section 178 compared
| Issue | IPC Section 247 (former) | BNS Section 178 (current) |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Fraudulent or dishonest alteration of Indian coin | Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes |
| Acts covered | Diminishing weight or altering composition of Indian coin | Counterfeiting; expressly includes changing coin weight, composition or appearance |
| Punishment | Imprisonment up to 7 years and fine | Life imprisonment or imprisonment up to 10 years, and fine |
| Application | Relevant to earlier offences, subject to savings and applicable law | Operative from 1 July 2024 |
Which law applies to an offence committed before 1 July 2024?
The date of the alleged act matters. Section 358 of the BNS repeals the IPC while preserving specified prior operations, liabilities, penalties, investigations and proceedings. Article 20(1) of the Constitution also protects against retrospective imposition of a greater penalty than was applicable when an offence was committed. The applicable provision and procedural law should therefore be assessed using the alleged offence date and relevant transitional rules.
Related provisions
Under the BNS, Section 179 addresses using as genuine, or trafficking in, counterfeit coin and specified other items with the required knowledge or reason to believe. Section 180 addresses possession of counterfeit coin and specified other items with the requisite knowledge and intention, subject to its lawful-source explanation. These are distinct from actually counterfeiting a coin under Section 178.
Official legal references
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 - official India Code PDF (Sections 178-180 and 358).
- India Code - Government of India (search the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Coinage Act, 2011).
- Bureau of Police Research and Development - IPC/BNS comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is IPC Section 247 still in force?
It is no longer the operative provision for new offences after 1 July 2024. Earlier offences may remain governed by the former law, subject to savings and constitutional protections.
What is the current BNS section for altering Indian coins?
BNS Section 178 is the relevant counterfeiting provision. Its Explanation (5) includes reducing the weight of a coin or altering its composition.
Does accidental damage to a coin constitute counterfeiting?
Not by itself. The prosecution must prove the ingredients of the criminal offence, including the required knowledge or intent.
This article is general legal information, not a substitute for advice on the facts of an individual case. Updated 30 October 2026.