Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter III: General Exceptions
Section 20: Act of a child under seven years of age
In plain words
Nothing done by a child under seven years of age is an offence.
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.
Read the in-depth explanation, with key Supreme Court rulings ↓
Official text
Nothing is an offence which is done by a child under seven years of age.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
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.
Understanding this section
Section 20 carries forward section 82 of the IPC word for word: nothing done by a child under seven years of age is an offence. The immunity is absolute.
Key points
- Only proof of age is needed.
- A person who uses the child to commit a crime is liable as a principal.
- Procedure for children in conflict with law is governed by the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the age of criminal responsibility with the juvenile age of eighteen.
Read with: Section 21 BNS, Section 82 IPC
Prepared with AI assistance as a study aid. Every ruling listed was checked against the Supreme Court's own judgments on this site, and quoted words appear in those judgments; linked names open the full judgment. Read the judgments themselves before relying on them. Not legal advice.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 20
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.