Under the Indian Penal Code, a female covers women of every age.

What is Rape?

Last updated on Apr 8, 2022

[Trigger Warning: The following content contains information on physical violence and sexual violence which some readers may find disturbing.]

Rape is the crime that occurs when a man has sexual intercourse with a woman against her will or without her consent.

A man commits rape on an non-consenting woman if he:1

  • penetrates his penis or inserts any other part of his body (to any extent) into the woman’s vagina, mouth, urethra, or anus, or forces her to do this with him or another person; or
  • inserts any object into the woman’s vagina, mouth, urethra, or anus, or forces her to do this with him or another person; or
  • applies his mouth to the woman’s vagina, anus or urethra, or makes her do this with him or any other person.

A medical procedure or intervention is not considered as rape. For example, if a doctor examines the private parts of a patient as part of medical procedure, this is not rape.

  1. Section 375, Indian Penal Code, 1860.[]

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