India’s crime surge driven by cyber offences, violence against women and children

By: Team India Tracker

NCRB data shows 62. 4 lakh cognisable crimes in 2023, with women and children bearing the brunt.

India recorded 62.4 lakh cognisable crimes in 2023, a 7.2 per cent increase from the previous year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) latest Crime in India 2023 report. That translates to one crime being logged every five seconds. More significantly, the overall rise was powered by a sharp spike in cybercrime and atrocities against Scheduled Tribes (STs), but the numbers underscore a deeper reality: women and children remain among the most vulnerable groups in the country.

Crimes against women near 4.5 lakh

Crimes against women crossed 4.48 lakh in 2023, continuing an upward trend from 4.45 lakh in 2022 and 4.28 lakh in 2021. The crime rate stood at 66.2 incidents per lakh female population.

Domestic violence and cruelty by husband or relatives under IPC Section 498A accounted for the single largest share, at 1,33,676 cases (29.8 per cent). This was followed by kidnapping and abduction (88,605 cases, 19.8 per cent), assault with intent to outrage modesty (83,891 cases, 18.7 per cent), and rape (29,670 cases, 4.4 per cent).

Cases of dowry deaths (6,156), abetment to suicide (4,825), and acid attacks (113) were also documented. Of the rape cases, 28,821 victims were adults, while 849 were minors.

State-wise, Uttar Pradesh led with 66,381 cases, followed by Maharashtra (47,101), Rajasthan (45,450), West Bengal (34,691), and Madhya Pradesh (32,342). In terms of crime rate, Telangana topped the chart at 124.9 per lakh women, ahead of Rajasthan (114.8), Odisha (112.4), and Haryana (110.3).

Delhi most crime-prone metropolitan

Delhi reported the highest number of rapes and murders among India’s major cities in 2023, according to the report. The national capital logged 1,088 rape cases last year, the most among 19 metropolitan areas tracked. Overall, crimes against women in Delhi reached 13,366, including cases of harassment, molestation, dowry harassment and dowry deaths.

Despite the grim tally, the data showed a modest decline. Crimes against women in the city fell 5.59 per cent compared with the previous two years, suggesting some improvement in policing or reporting mechanisms.

Delhi also recorded the highest number of murders among metropolitan cities, with 503 cases in 2023. Bengaluru ranked a distant second with 206 murders, followed by Jaipur with 129.

The figures reinforce Delhi’s image as one of India’s most crime-prone major urban centres, despite being the seat of the central government and home to some of the country’s largest police forces.

Children also at risk

Crimes against children surged 9.2 per cent year-on-year to 1.77 lakh cases in 2023, up from 1.62 lakh in 2022. The crime rate was 39.9 per lakh child population.

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act accounted for 66,232 cases, including 40,046 child rapes. Kidnapping and abduction emerged as the biggest contributor, with 79,884 IPC cases impacting 82,106 children. Alarmingly, 14,637 cases involved abducting minor girls to compel marriage.

I978Victim demographics highlight the scale of the problem: 762 victims were aged below six years, 3,229 between six and 12, and 36,682 between 12 and 18 years. In nearly 39,000 cases of sexual assault, the accused were known to the victims, often family members, neighbours, or friends.

Cybercrime surge and tribal violence

Cyber offences soared 31.2 per cent to 86,420 cases, with nearly 70 per cent linked to fraud. This reflects both India’s deepening digital adoption and the growing vulnerabilities in its online ecosystem.

Atrocities against Scheduled Tribes jumped 28.8 per cent, with 12,960 cases recorded compared to 10,064 in 2022. Manipur, still reeling from ethnic violence, reported the sharpest increase — from just one case in 2022 to 3,399 cases in 2023, spanning arson, dacoity, land disputes, and intimidation.

Crimes against Scheduled Castes rose marginally by 0.4 per cent, touching 57,789 cases.

A persistent crisis

Despite public outrage over high-profile incidents, such as the RG Kar Medical College horror in Kolkata in 2023, the NCRB data suggests little structural change in protecting women and children.

While the chargesheeting rate for crimes against women stood at 77.6 per cent, activists point to gaps in policing, judicial delays, and social stigma that prevent justice. The continuing rise in cybercrime and violence against vulnerable groups underlines the pressure on India’s law enforcement and judicial systems to adapt.

The NCRB numbers, analysts say, show India faces not just a crime surge but a crisis of safety and trust—one that demands stronger protections, faster justice delivery, and deeper social change.