Rising Cybercrime and Violence : NCRB 2023 Report

Rising Cybercrime and Violence : NCRB 2023 Report

Context

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has released the Crime in India 2023 report, which provides a comprehensive overview of crime trends across the country. The findings reveal not only a rise in crime rates but also a greater willingness among citizens to report crimes, reflecting evolving patterns of law enforcement and social awareness.

Overall Crime Situation

The crime rate per lakh population increased from 422.2 in 2022 to 448.3 in 2023.
A total of 6.24 million cognizable crimes were recorded:
- 3.76 million cases under IPC
- 2.48 million cases under Special and Local Laws (SLL)

High-Volume Crimes

Theft – 6,89,580 cases, the largest share of property offenses.
Simple Hurt – 6.36 lakh+ cases, the most common IPC offense.
Motor Vehicle Act Violations – More than doubled, contributing heavily to the overall crime increase.

Crimes Against Vulnerable Groups

Children – 1,77,335 cases in 2023, showing a 9.2% increase over 2022.
Scheduled Tribes (STs) – 12,960 cases, a sharp 28.8% rise.
Scheduled Castes (SCs) – 57,789 cases registered.
- Highest in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh (8,232 cases).

Cybercrime

Cases have steadily increased:
- 27,248 (2018) → 44,735 (2019) → 65,893 (2022) → 86,420 (2023).
Nature of crimes – Mostly fraud, extortion, and sexual exploitation.
States most affected – Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh.

Crime Against Women

4,48,211 cases registered in 2023, a 0.7% increase.
States with highest cases – Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal.
Breakdown of major crimes:
- Cruelty by husband/relatives – 29.8%
- Kidnapping and abduction – 19.8%
- Assault to outrage modesty – 18.71%
- Acid attacks – 0.04%

Regional Impact

Manipur – Worst affected due to ethnic violence.
Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan – Also recorded very high cases.

Conclusion

The Crime in India 2023 report presents a mixed picture – while rising numbers highlight greater public trust in reporting mechanisms, they also underline serious challenges such as gender-based violence, cybercrime, and crimes against vulnerable groups. Addressing these issues requires:

Stronger policing and judicial reforms
Enhanced cyber security infrastructure
Targeted protection measures for women, children, SCs, and STs
Community awareness and preventive strategies

Only a comprehensive, multi-level approach can ensure both justice delivery and public safety in India.