Section 3: Penalties for spying

Q: What does Section 3 of The Official Secrets Act, 1923 (OSA) deal with?

Section 3 OSA pertains to "Penalties for spying". It is part of the The Official Secrets Act, 1923, a legislation enacted by the Parliament of India. Section 3 of The Official Secrets Act, 1923 (OSA) governs penalties for spying. As verified on 19 May 2026.

Q: Is Section 3 OSA still in force?

Yes, Section 3 of the The Official Secrets Act, 1923 is currently in force across the Republic of India.

Q: What is धारा 3 OSA?

धारा 3 OSA is the Devanagari Hindi reference for Section 3 of the The Official Secrets Act, 1923. Section 3 of The Official Secrets Act, 1923 (OSA) governs penalties for spying. As verified on 19 May 2026.

Q: What is Dhara 3 OSA?

Dhara 3 OSA is the Roman Hindi reference for Section 3 of the The Official Secrets Act, 1923. "Dhara" means "Section" in Hindi. Section 3 of The Official Secrets Act, 1923 (OSA) governs penalties for spying. As verified on 19 May 2026.

Q: How to cite Section 3 of The Official Secrets Act, 1923?

Cite as: "Section 3, The Official Secrets Act, 1923 (OSA)" in legal briefs. For academic writing, use the BlueBook format: The Official Secrets Act, 1923, § 3 (India).

Law on Tips Editorial Board

(1)

If any person for any purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State—

(a) approaches, inspects, passes over or is in the vicinity of, or enters, any prohibited place; or

(b) makes any sketch, plan, model, or note which is calculated to be or might be or is intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy; or

(c) obtains, collects, records or publishes or communicates to any other person any secret official code or password, or any sketch, plan, model, article or note or other document or information which is calculated to be or might be or is intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy or which relates to a matter the disclosure of which is likely to affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State or friendly relations with foreign States,

(2)

On a prosecution for an offence punishable under this section it shall not be necessary to show that the accused person was guilty of any particular act tending to show a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State, and, notwithstanding that no such act is proved against him, he may be convicted if, from the circumstances of the case or his conduct or his known character as proved, it appears that his purpose was a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State; and if any sketch, plan, model, article, note, document, or information relating to or used in any prohibited place, or relating to anything in such a place, or any secret official code or password is made, obtained, collected, recorded, published or communicated by any person other than a person acting under lawful authority, and from the circumstances of the case or his conduct or his known character as proved it appears that his purpose was a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State, such sketch, plan, model, article, note, document, information, code or password shall be presumed to have been made, obtained, collected, recorded, published or communicated for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State.