Section 152: Act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India

In plain words

Deliberately exciting or attempting to excite secession, armed rebellion or subversive activities, encouraging separatist feelings, or endangering India's sovereignty, unity and integrity, by words, signs, electronic communication, financial means or otherwise, is punishable with imprisonment for life or up to seven years, and a fine.

Criticising government measures or actions in order to change them by lawful means is not an offence under this section, as long as it does not excite the activities listed.

A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.

Official text

Whoever, purposely or knowingly, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or by electronic communication or by use of financial mean, or otherwise, excites or attempts to excite, secession or armed rebellion or subversive activities, or encourages feelings of separatist activities or endangers sovereignty or unity and integrity of India; or indulges in or commits any such act shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation.—Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures, or administrative or other action of the Government with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means without exciting or attempting to excite the activities referred to in this section do not constitute an offence under this section.

Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 25 August 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

Supreme Court judgments citing the section 152

No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.