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New Delhi: Citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Central Government informed the Parliament that the number of cybercrimes targeting children increased from 232 in 2018 to 1823 in 2022. This information was shared by Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a written reply to a question raised by Lok Sabha MP Pradyut Bordoloi.
Crime in India, an annual publication of the NCRB, provides crime-related statistics. The last available report covers the year 2022.
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According to NCRB data, the number of crimes registered against children during the last five years is: 232 (2018), 306 (2019), 1102 (2020), 1376 (2021), and 1823 (2023).
Source: Crime In India
Cases of Cyber Pornography or hosting or publishing obscene sexual materials depicting children increased from 44 (2018) to 1171 (2022). There was a marked increase in cyber stalking or bullying cases, climbing from 40 in 2018 to 158 in 2022
From 2018 to 2022, cases of internet crimes through online games rose to 2.
Minister further stressed that the States and Union Territories (UTs) are mainly responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes including cybercrime and cybercrimes against children through their Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). The Central government supports the initiatives of States and UTs through advice and scheme-funding.
Kumar stated that Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has set up the ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’ (I4C) to handle all types of cybercrimes in the country. As part of the I4C ‘National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal’ has also launched to enable public to report instances pertaining to all types of cybercrimes.
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Besides, the Central Government has undertaken various measures to create cybercrime awareness including among children in the North eastern States.
“Awareness audio and video messages have been telecast through local FM and TV channels all across India, including the NE states. I4C has also collaborated with Department of Posts to publicize cyber awareness messages in post offices of North eastern rural and urban areas,” Minister stated.
