The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has published its much-awaited Crime in India 2023 report, showing that India recorded a staggering 62,41,569 cognisable crimes in the year. The report highlights a steep increase in crimes against women and a worrying spike in cybercrime cases across the country. This news report provides exhaustive insights into the NCRB report.
Highlights on Crime in India 2023
- The widely discussed NCRB report 2025 is essentially the long-delayed release of the Crime in India 2023 report, published two years after the data was recorded.
- As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India saw a 7% rise in cognisable crimes, with an alarming 62,41,569 cases reported in 2023.
- The figures highlight the deepening concerns over public safety and law enforcement.
- One of the most critical takeaways from the NCRB report 2023 is the rapid growth of cybercrime in India.
- Karnataka reported the sharpest increase, registering 21,889 cybercrime cases, placing it at the top among all states.
- The data also shows a notable escalation in financial frauds, signalling a rise in both digital and economic offences.
- When it comes to crime against women, the increase may appear modest at 0.7%, but the volume remains worrying, with 4,48,211 cases filed in 2023.
- These numbers reaffirm that women’s safety continues to be a pressing national issue.
- The report further reveals another grim statistic. Maharashtra has been recorded as the suicide capital of India, with the highest number of suicides during 2023.
What is the NCRB report?
The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) publishes its annual report known as Crime in India each year. This report provides exhaustive statistical data on crime in the country with a statewide analysis. The NCRB report serves as an important resource for multiple stakeholders within the government and also serves as a transparent record of the crime status of India.
Why was the NCRB Report 2023 Delayed?
The recently released NCRB report 2023 covers crime statistics for the calendar year 2023, but it comes with a two-year delay. This unusual lag has been the subject of repeated discussions and debates in Parliament, with members demanding answers on why the Crime in India 2023 report took so long to be made public.
In response, the Home Ministry consistently maintained that the NCRB data for 2023 was still under validation and undergoing final checks. Despite persistent questioning, the Ministry refrained from giving any concrete timeline for the release of the NCRB report, fuelling further concerns over transparency and accountability.
Cybercrime Analysis in the NCRB Report
In the era of Digital India, one of the most alarming revelations from the NCRB report 2023 is the steep rise in cybercrime cases. The figures show that registered cybercrimes jumped from 65,893 cases in 2022 to 86,420 cases in 2023, marking an unprecedented 31.2% increase within a single year.
A closer look at the Crime in India 2023 report shows that financial frauds dominate cybercrime in India, accounting for 59,526 cases, which is nearly 70% of the total cyber offences. Other major categories include online sexual exploitation, extortion and impersonation-related crimes.
State-wise data reveals that Karnataka, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh lead the cybercrime tally with 21,889, 18,236 and 10,784 cases respectively. Karnataka alone reported a shocking 18,166 cases of digital fraud through impersonation, making it the epicentre of online financial scams in the country.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, through an official press note on PIB, also flagged the rise in cybercrimes against children. These include disturbing trends such as cyber blackmailing, stalking, fake online profiles, child pornography and online gaming-related offences.
On a broader scale, the cybercrime rate per capita has risen significantly from 4.8 cases per lakh population in 2022 to 6.2 cases per lakh population in 2023, underlining the growing digital threats in India.
Death by Suicides in the NCRB Report
The NCRB report 2023 paints a grim picture of suicides in India, identifying two major categories driving the crisis – farmer suicides and suicides among the unemployed population. In total, the country recorded 1,71,418 deaths by suicide in 2023, of which 10,786 were from the farming sector.
Maharashtra tops the list for suicides in India, with the highest toll of farmer deaths. In 2023 alone, 10,700 farmers in Maharashtra took their own lives, making it the state most affected by the agrarian crisis. Suicides among farmers accounted for 6.3% of the total suicides nationwide, highlighting the severe distress in rural communities. Other states with alarming suicide figures include Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Drawing attention to the worsening situation, Dr. Ashok Dhawale, President of the All India Kisan Sabha, described Maharashtra as the ‘graveyard of farmers’, noting that most of the victims were cotton and soybean farmers. He criticised the government’s policy decisions, particularly the waiver of the 11% import duty on American cotton, which he argued has only increased pressure on Indian farmers already struggling with low prices and mounting debt.
Dr. Dhawale also raised questions about the credibility of the Crime in India 2023 report, pointing out the surprising claim that West Bengal recorded zero suicides, a figure he dismissed as highly unrealistic.
Crime Against Women in the NCRB Report
The NCRB report 2023 reveals that 4,48,211 cases of crime against women were recorded across India in 2023. The largest share of these cases stemmed from harassment and cruelty by husbands, in-laws and relatives, which alone accounted for 1,33,676 incidents.
Other major offences against women highlighted in the Crime in India 2023 report include kidnapping, abduction and assault, pointing to the wide-ranging nature of gender-based violence.
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Karnataka were listed as the top three states in crime against women in the NCRB report, with dowry being the top motive, and as many as 7,151, 3,665 and 2,322 cases being registered in these states respectively.
While the year-on-year comparison shows only a 0.7% increase from 2022, the gravity of the problem remains stark. The crime rate against women in India stands at 66.2 cases per lakh population, highlighting that women’s safety continues to be one of the country’s most pressing social challenges.
Crime Against Children in the NCRB Report
The NCRB report 2023 highlights a worrying surge in crime against children in India, with cases crossing the 1,77,000 mark, reflecting a sharp 9.2% rise over the previous year.
The two biggest contributors to this increase are child abduction and POCSO Act cases, which account for 79,884 and 67,694 incidents respectively. These figures reveal how vulnerable children remain to both physical and sexual exploitation.
The Crime in India 2023 report also draws attention to the growing threat of cybercrime against children, including online abuse, stalking and exploitation, further deepening concerns around child safety in the digital age.
Other Key Insights of the Crime in India 2023 Report
The Crime in India 2023 report by the NCRB highlights several key trends in the nation’s crime scenario:
- Among states and union territories, Delhi records the highest crime rate, with 1,508 cases per lakh population.
- Following closely are Kerala (721 per lakh), Manipur (594 per lakh), and Haryana (426 per lakh).
- Out of the 62,41,569 total crimes registered in 2023, 37,63,102 cases fall under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), while 24,78,467 cases are reported under Special and Local Laws (SLL).
- Though the overall number of murder cases declined by 2.8%, registering 27,721 deaths, other crimes such as abduction saw a sharp rise of 5.6%, crossing 1,13,000 cases.
- Crimes targeting senior citizens showed a slight decline, down 2.3% to 27,886 cases as per the NCRB report.
- Interestingly, the NCRB report 2023 notes that Jammu and Kashmir reported fewer than 2,080 crime cases over the 2021-2023 period, marking it as one of the regions with the lowest recorded crime figures..
Analysis of the NCRB Report
The Crime in India 2023 report by the NCRB offers a sobering look at India’s evolving crime landscape and raises serious questions about societal health. Key insights include:
- Despite rapid technological advancement, technology itself has emerged as a major enabler of crime, with cybercrime in India reaching unprecedented levels.
- Kerala, despite having the highest literacy rate in the country, reported the highest number of suicides among the unemployed, highlighting the persistent gap between education and employment opportunities.
- Crime against women in India, while showing only a modest rise in percentages, remains a critical concern, reflecting ongoing challenges to women’s safety even in a ‘modern’ and ‘educated’ society.
- The increase in cybercrime against children points to systemic failures in protecting minors from online threats, exploitation and abuse.
- The overall pattern of crime is shifting sharply toward technology-driven offences, including financial fraud and digital blackmail, moving away from traditional forms of violent crime.
- Although reported rape cases have not shown the extent of escalation expected, high-profile incidents remind us that ensuring women’s safety remains a major societal challenge.
How Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj’s Teachings Alone Can Transform Crime-Plagued India
Despite the numerous laws under the Indian Penal Code and other legal provisions, crime in India continues to rise at an alarming pace. This stark reality highlights a critical truth – law alone cannot curb crime.
A society devoid of true spiritual wisdom, as taught by a Tatvdarshi Saint, often lacks the moral compass to respect consequences, which fuels the surge in criminal activities. In contrast, Jagatguru Tatvdarshi Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj has nurtured a community of disciples who exemplify ideal citizenship. Under His guidance, they abstain from bribery, violence, adultery and intoxicants, embodying a society free from vices and corruption.
The teachings of Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj offer a transformative path, and is alone capable of restoring the moral fabric of society and guiding individuals towards righteousness. His spiritual wisdom is not just a personal refuge but the singular path for a crime-free, morally upright society.
Discover the life-changing guidance of Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj and how His teachings are reshaping lives today:
- Website: www.jagatgururampalji.org
- YouTube channel: Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj
- Facebook page: Spiritual Leader Saint Rampal Ji
- ‘X’ handle: @SaintRampalJiM
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