Under section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the offence relating to the sale, distribution…

The Exception to section 294 BNS excludes any book, pamphlet, writing, drawing, painting, representation or figure whose publication is proved to be justified as being for the public good on the ground that it is in the interest of science, literature, art or learning or other objects of general concern, or which is kept or used bona fide for religious purposes. It also excludes representations on ancient monuments and on temples or cars used for conveying idols.

The other options fall within the offence: section 294(1) expressly covers content displayed in electronic form, material which, taken as a whole, tends to deprave and corrupt is "obscene" under that sub-section, and possession for the purpose of sale is punishable under section 294(2)(a). (The State-inserted s.292A IPC on scurrilous matter has no counterpart in the BNS.)