Answers About
Dowry & Indian Law.

Is dowry illegal in India?

Yes, completely. The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 makes it a crime to give it, take it, or even ask for it. Section 3: minimum 5 years in prison and a fine of ₹15,000 or the dowry's value, whichever is more. Section 4: even asking, with nothing exchanged, gets you 6 months to 2 years.

What is the punishment for giving or taking dowry?

Section 3, Dowry Prohibition Act: minimum 5 years + a fine of ₹15,000 or the dowry's value, whichever is more. BNS §85 (dowry cruelty): up to 3 years. BNS §80 (dowry death): 7 years to life. See all dowry laws →

What is BNS Section 85, and how is it different from IPC 498A?

BNS §85 replaced IPC 498A when the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita took effect on 1 July 2024. Same substance: it criminalises cruelty by a husband or his relatives, including mental harassment and demands for property. Maximum: 3 years in prison and a fine. Cases filed before July 2024 still run under 498A; anything new goes under BNS §85.

What is a "dowry death" and what is the law?

Dowry death (BNS §80, formerly IPC §304B) applies when a woman dies from burns, bodily injury, or under suspicious circumstances within 7 years of marriage, and there's evidence she was being harassed for dowry before she died. Once that's established, the law presumes the husband or his family caused it. Minimum sentence: 7 years. Maximum: life.

How do I report dowry harassment in India?

Call 181 (Women's Helpline), 112 (police), or 1091 (Women in Distress). NCW: 7827-170-170. You don't need to know any section numbers. Walk into a police station and say you want to file a complaint for dowry harassment. Your District Dowry Prohibition Officer is legally required to take your complaint.

Can someone be prosecuted for merely demanding dowry?

Yes. Section 4 makes the demand itself a crime. Nothing needs to be paid or handed over. Just asking is enough. That's 6 months to 2 years' imprisonment.

What is the difference between "dowry" and "stridhan"?

Stridhan is what's voluntarily given to the bride by her family, friends, whoever, as a gift. It's hers, legally, no conditions. Dowry is what's demanded as the price of the marriage. The former is fine; the latter is a crime. The Supreme Court has consistently held that a woman can reclaim her stridhan whenever she wants.

Is the dowry calculator on this site real?

No. Every number is made up. The point of the calculator is to show you how real-world negotiations actually work, and make you uncomfortable about it. The correct answer, legally and every other way, is zero.

What is the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961?

The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 is India's central law against dowry: covers giving, taking, and demanding it. Defines dowry as any property or security exchanged as consideration for a marriage. Been on the books for over 60 years. Minimum penalty: 5 years in prison. Full breakdown →