Practice paper — BNS Chapter XVIII — Of Offences Relating To Documents And To Property Marks

1.Under Section 335, which of the following acts constitutes making a false document or false electronic record as per clause (A)?

• (A) Dishonestly makes, signs, seals or executes a document or part of a document with intention to cause it to be believed to be made by another.
• (B) Merely printing a document without any dishonest or fraudulent intention.
• (C) Transmitting an electronic record with lawful authority and no dishonest intention.
• (D) Possessing a genuine document without attempting to alter or transmit it.

2.Can a person’s signature of his own name amount to forgery under Section 335?

• (A) No, a person signing his own name can never be guilty of forgery.
• (B) Yes, a man’s signature of his own name may amount to forgery.
• (C) Only if the person signs another person’s name as well.
• (D) Only when the signature is on an electronic record.

3.If a person without lawful authority, dishonestly alters a document after it has been executed by another who is now dead, does Section 335 treat the alteration as forgery?

• (A) No, alteration after the maker’s death is not forgery under Section 335.
• (B) Yes, alteration after execution is forgery even if the original maker is dead.
• (C) Only if the deceased had authorised the alteration before death.
• (D) Yes, but only for physical documents and not electronic records.

4.A executes a document himself and later, without lawful authority and with dishonest intent, alters it in a material part. Under Section 335(B), is this act forgery?

• (A) No, a person cannot commit forgery by altering a document he himself executed.
• (B) Yes, altering a document after execution is forgery even if done by the person who executed it.
• (C) Only if a third party relies on the altered document.
• (D) Yes, but only if the alteration converts the document into an electronic record.

5.What is the punishment for simple forgery under Section 336(2) of the BNS?

• (A) Imprisonment up to seven years and fine
• (B) Imprisonment up to three years and fine
• (C) Imprisonment up to two years, or fine, or both
• (D) Imprisonment up to five years, or fine, or both

6.Under Section 336(4) of the BNS, forgery committed intending that the forged document shall harm the reputation of any party, or knowing it is likely to be so used, attracts:

• (A) Imprisonment up to two years, or fine
• (B) Imprisonment up to seven years and fine
• (C) Imprisonment up to five years, or fine, or both
• (D) Imprisonment up to three years and fine

7.Which statement correctly captures the scheme of punishments within Section 336 of the BNS?

• (A) All forms of forgery are uniformly punishable with two years' imprisonment
• (B) Forgery for the purpose of cheating carries a lesser punishment than forgery to harm reputation
• (C) Simple forgery carries up to two years; forgery intended for cheating carries up to seven years plus fine; forgery intended or likely to harm reputation carries up to three years plus fine
• (D) Forgery to harm reputation carries up to seven years, while forgery for cheating carries up to three years

8.Does the definition of 'register' in Section 337 include lists, data or records maintained in electronic form?

• (A) Yes, the Explanation expressly includes electronic form
• (B) No, the section applies only to physical registers
• (C) Only if the electronic register is printed and certified
• (D) Only if maintained by a Court

9.A person forges a private contract between two private parties (not a public servant) and presents it as genuine. Is this forgery covered by Section 337?

• (A) Yes, any forgery of a document is covered by Section 337
• (B) No, Section 337 lists specific types of records and a private contract is not among them
• (C) Yes, but only if the contract is later used in Court
• (D) No, unless the contract is registered as a government register

10.Which of the following best describes the scope of 'a certificate or document purporting to be made by a public servant in his official capacity' under Section 337?

• (A) The section applies only if the certificate was actually made by the public servant in question
• (B) The section applies even if the document only purports to be made by a public servant, whether or not the public servant actually made it
• (C) The section applies only to identity documents issued by the Government
• (D) The section applies only to registers kept by public servants and not to certificates

11.What are the sentencing options provided under Section 338 for forging a covered document?

• (A) Imprisonment which may extend to ten years and fine
• (B) Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description up to ten years, and fine
• (C) Only imprisonment for life without fine
• (D) Only fine

12.Does forging an acquittance or receipt acknowledging the delivery of movable property fall within Section 338?

• (A) No — Section 338 applies only to valuable securities and wills
• (B) No — acquittances are excluded
• (C) Yes — the provision expressly includes 'an acquittance or receipt for the delivery of any movable property or valuable security'
• (D) Only if the movable property is a valuable security

13.Which of the following best states the statutory sentencing regime in Section 338?

• (A) The only penalty is life imprisonment
• (B) The offender may be punished with life imprisonment, or with imprisonment of either description for a term up to ten years, and also fined
• (C) Maximum punishment is ten years imprisonment; life imprisonment is not provided
• (D) The court may impose only a fine and cannot sentence to imprisonment

14.Which mental elements does Section 339 require to be proved for the offence?

• (A) Knowledge that the document/electronic record is forged and intention that it be fraudulently or dishonestly used as genuine.
• (B) Mere possession of a forged document, without any knowledge or intention.
• (C) Only intention to have the document used as genuine, irrespective of knowledge of forgery.
• (D) Only knowledge that the document is forged, irrespective of any intention to have it used.

15.Under Section 339, what is the maximum punishment where the forged item is of the description mentioned in Section 337?

• (A) Imprisonment for life and fine.
• (B) Only fine, no imprisonment.
• (C) Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and also liable to fine.
• (D) Imprisonment of up to ten years without fine.

16.Which of the following correctly states the punishment under Section 339 when the forged item is of the description mentioned in Section 338?

• (A) Imprisonment for life only; no lesser term is provided but fine may be imposed.
• (B) Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
• (C) Imprisonment for up to seven years only; life imprisonment is not available.
• (D) Only a fine is prescribed in this case.

17.According to Section 340(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which of the following is designated a "forged document or electronic record"?

• (A) A false document or electronic record made wholly or in part by forgery
• (B) Any document containing untrue statements regardless of creation method
• (C) Only a document that is wholly forged and not partially forged
• (D) Only an electronic record created by forgery

18.A document was forged in part. A person honestly believes it to be genuine and has no reason to suspect forgery; they use it as genuine. Under Section 340, is that person punishable under subsection (2)?

• (A) Yes — any use of a forged document as genuine is punishable
• (B) No — subsection (2) requires that the user knows or has reason to believe it is forged
• (C) Yes — because partial forgery is treated more severely
• (D) Only if the document is an electronic record

19.If a person fraudulently or dishonestly uses a document as genuine but genuinely did not know and had no reason to believe the document was forged, what follows under Section 340(2)?

• (A) They are punished in the same manner as if they had forged the document
• (B) They are liable for a separate fraud offence but not under Section 340(2)
• (C) They are punished only if the document was wholly forged
• (D) They are not punishable under Section 340(2) because the provision requires that the user "knows or has reason to believe" the document is forged

20.Under Section 341 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, what is the punishment for a person who makes or counterfeits any seal, plate or other instrument intending that it shall be used to commit a forgery punishable under section 338?

• (A) Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and also liable to fine
• (B) Imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, and also liable to fine
• (C) Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years only (no life), and also liable to fine
• (D) Only a fine

21.If a person makes or counterfeits a seal intending it be used to commit a forgery punishable under a section of this Chapter other than section 338, what punishment does Section 341 prescribe?

• (A) Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment up to seven years, and fine
• (B) Imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, and fine
• (C) Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and also liable to fine
• (D) Only a fine

22.A person fraudulently or dishonestly uses as genuine a seal which he knows or has reason to believe is counterfeit. Under Section 341, how is he to be punished?

• (A) He shall be punished in the same manner as if he had made or counterfeited such seal, plate or instrument
• (B) He shall be punished with imprisonment for up to three years and liable to fine
• (C) He shall only be liable to a fine
• (D) He shall not be punished unless the seal was actually used to commit a forgery

23.What is the maximum punishment under subsection (1) for counterfeiting a device or mark used for authenticating any document described in section 338?

• (A) Imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and fine
• (B) Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and fine
• (C) Imprisonment for life only (no minimum or alternative)
• (D) Only fine

24.Does subsection (2) explicitly cover counterfeit devices or marks used for authenticating electronic records?

• (A) Yes; subsection (2) refers to "any document or electronic record other than the documents described in section 338."
• (B) No; subsection (2) covers only physical documents, not electronic records.
• (C) Only if the electronic record is later converted into a physical document.
• (D) Only if the electronic record is also described in section 338.

25.Which statement correctly distinguishes the punishments between subsection (1) and subsection (2)?

• (A) Both subsections prescribe only fines and no imprisonment.
• (B) Subsection (1) prescribes imprisonment up to seven years, while subsection (2) prescribes imprisonment for life.
• (C) Subsection (1) prescribes only life imprisonment with no alternative term, while subsection (2) prescribes up to seven years.
• (D) Subsection (1) provides for imprisonment for life or imprisonment up to seven years (and fine), whereas subsection (2) provides for imprisonment which may extend to seven years (and fine) but does not provide for life imprisonment.

26.Which of the following types of documents are expressly covered by Section 343 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023?

• (A) Only wills
• (B) A will, an authority to adopt a son, or any valuable security
• (C) Only authorities to adopt
• (D) Only valuable securities

27.Which mental states, according to Section 343, make the prohibited acts punishable?

• (A) Only if done fraudulently or dishonestly
• (B) Only if done with intent to cause damage or injury to the public or any person
• (C) Either fraudulently or dishonestly, or with intent to cause damage or injury to the public or any person
• (D) If done negligently

28.If a person cancels a will believing in good faith that the will is invalid, does Section 343 apply to them?

• (A) Yes — cancellation of a will is always an offence under Section 343
• (B) Yes — but only if the person also committed mischief
• (C) No — the section applies only when acts are fraudulent, dishonest, or done with the specified intent
• (D) No — the section applies only to valuable securities

29.Does the phrase "or commits mischief in respect of such document" in Section 343 criminalise mischief done without fraud, dishonesty or the specified intent?

• (A) Yes — any mischief to such documents is punishable regardless of mental state
• (B) No — the mischief is covered only where it is done fraudulently, dishonestly, or with the intent to cause damage or injury
• (C) Yes — but only if the mischief causes public injury
• (D) No — mischief is not mentioned in the section

30.What mental element is required for an offence under Section 344?

• (A) Negligence or carelessness
• (B) Wilfulness alone (no further intent needed)
• (C) Wilfully, and with intent to defraud
• (D) Strict liability (no mens rea required)

31.Which of the following factual situations would fall squarely within Section 344?

• (A) A clerk accidentally deletes an electronic record while performing routine backups
• (B) An employer (owner) alters his own private note-book that never belonged to the employer’s business
• (C) A clerk, employed in that capacity, wilfully and with intent to defraud makes a false entry in his employer’s account
• (D) A stranger tampers with the employer’s books without any employment relationship

32.If the owner/employer of a set of books personally falsifies those books, does Section 344 automatically apply to him?

• (A) No — the section never applies to employers or owners
• (B) Yes — it applies to anyone who falsifies employer’s books
• (C) Only if the prosecution names the person intended to be defrauded
• (D) Yes, but only if the owner was employed or acting in the capacity of a clerk, officer or servant

33.Which of the following, according to Section 345(2), amounts to using a false property mark?

• (A) Affixing a mark to immovable property to show ownership.
• (B) Marking goods with their actual owner's name for identification.
• (C) Using an unmarked package while verbally claiming it belongs to another person.
• (D) Marking movable goods or using a receptacle with a mark in a manner reasonably calculated to cause belief that the goods belong to a person to whom they do not belong.

34.A trader uses a packaging case that bears another person's mark so as to create the belief that the contents belong to that marked person, although they do not. Under Section 345(2), is this use a false property mark?

• (A) No — only affixing a new mark to goods counts as a false property mark.
• (B) No — cases and packages are excluded from the provision.
• (C) Yes — Section 345(2) includes 'uses any case, package or other receptacle having any mark thereon' in a manner reasonably calculated to cause such belief.
• (D) Only if the package is sealed and the contents are misrepresented.

35.If a person simply marks his own movable goods with his name to indicate ownership, is he guilty under Section 345 of using a false property mark?

• (A) Yes — marking any movable property is punishable under Section 345.
• (B) Yes — marking own goods is punishable unless he proves lack of intent.
• (C) No — marking one's own goods is always excused regardless of purpose.
• (D) No — Section 345(2) makes a mark false only when it is used to cause belief that the property belongs to a person to whom it does not belong; marking one's own goods does not meet that element.

36.What is the maximum term of imprisonment prescribed by Section 346?

• (A) Six months
• (B) One year
• (C) Three years
• (D) Seven years

37.Under Section 346, is it necessary that actual injury to a person must occur for the offence to be made out?

• (A) Yes — actual injury must occur
• (B) Yes — only bodily injury counts
• (C) No — intending or knowing it to be likely that injury may thereby occur is sufficient
• (D) No — only damage to the mark itself is required

38.Does Section 346 apply where the act is likely to cause injury only to property (and not to any person)?

• (A) No — the provision speaks of causing injury to any person, so harm only to property is not the focus
• (B) Yes — "injury" in the section includes injury to property
• (C) Yes — any harm (to person or property) brought about by defacing a mark falls within the section
• (D) No — the section applies only if a person is actually injured

39.Under Section 347(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, what is the maximum term of imprisonment for counterfeiting any property mark used by any other person?

• (A) Six months
• (B) Two years
• (C) Three years
• (D) Five years

40.A person knowingly uses a counterfeit mark that was originally used by a public servant. Under Section 347(2), what penalty applies?

• (A) Imprisonment up to three years and liable to fine
• (B) Imprisonment up to two years or fine or both
• (C) Imprisonment up to three years without fine
• (D) Only monetary fine

41.Which of the following correctly states the difference between the penalties in Section 347(1) and Section 347(2)?

• (A) (1) prescribes up to three years and mandatory fine; (2) prescribes up to two years and optional fine
• (B) (1) prescribes up to two years and mandatory fine; (2) prescribes up to three years or fine or both
• (C) (1) prescribes up to two years with fine optional; (2) prescribes up to three years and also liable to fine
• (D) (1) prescribes only fine; (2) prescribes imprisonment only

42.Under Section 348 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which of the following acts is expressly criminalised?

• (A) Making a die, plate or other instrument for the purpose of counterfeiting a property mark
• (B) Making a die for lawful personal use on one's own goods
• (C) Possessing a decorative stamp without intent to counterfeit
• (D) Selling goods with genuine property marks

43.Does Section 348 criminalise having in one's possession a property mark for the purpose of denoting that goods belong to a person to whom they do not belong?

• (A) No — the Section only deals with instruments like dies or plates
• (B) No — possession of a property mark is not mentioned in the Section
• (C) Yes — possession of a property mark for that false purpose is expressly punished
• (D) Yes — but only if the goods themselves are counterfeit

44.A person merely uses an instrument to counterfeit a property mark but does not make it and does not have it in their possession. Under the text of Section 348, is that mere use covered?

• (A) Yes — the Section explicitly punishes any use of an instrument to counterfeit
• (B) Yes — using an instrument is automatically treated as making it under the Section
• (C) No — the Section only addresses sale of counterfeit goods, not instruments
• (D) No — Section 348 punishes making or having in possession for the purpose of counterfeiting; mere use is not mentioned

45.Under Section 349 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which of the following acts is/are expressly made an offence?

• (A) Only selling goods bearing a counterfeit property mark.
• (B) Selling, exposing, or having in possession for sale any goods or things with a counterfeit property mark.
• (C) Only possessing counterfeit property marks (not goods).
• (D) Manufacturing counterfeit property marks.

46.Who bears the burden of proof for the defences listed in Section 349 (such as having taken reasonable precautions or giving supplier information)?

• (A) The prosecution must disprove the defences.
• (B) The court must independently investigate and prove the defences.
• (C) The accused must prove the defences (i.e., 'he proves').
• (D) The investigating police must gather evidence to establish the defences.

47.If a counterfeit property mark is affixed to the package containing goods but not on the goods themselves, does Section 349 apply?

• (A) No — the mark must be on the goods themselves to attract Section 349.
• (B) Yes — the section applies only when the mark is on both goods and package.
• (C) No — the offence applies only to cases where the package is opened.
• (D) Yes — the provision covers marks 'affixed to or impressed upon' the goods or 'to or upon any case, package or other receptacle' in which the goods are contained.

48.Under Section 350(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, making a false mark is an offence when placed upon which of the following?

• (A) Any case, package or other receptacle containing goods (as described in the section)
• (B) Any public record or government document
• (C) Any person's body or personal clothing
• (D) Any electronic data or computer file

49.What is the maximum term of imprisonment provided for an offence under Section 350(1)?

• (A) One year
• (B) Three years
• (C) Seven years
• (D) Ten years

50.Does Section 350(1) require that a public servant or other person actually believed the false mark for the offence to be complete?

• (A) Yes; actual belief is a required element
• (B) Yes, but only if the goods are of incorrect quality
• (C) Only if a public servant was deceived
• (D) No; it is sufficient that the mark was 'reasonably calculated to cause' belief