NCRB Report: A Rape Every 17 Minutes, A Woman Killed Daily At Home, UP Tops Crimes Against Women
India registered a crime every five seconds in 2023, with the total number of cognisable offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL) reaching alarming proportions, according to the Crime in India 2023 report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on September 29.
In what is the most authoritative annual record of criminal activity across the country, the NCRB reported a disturbing frequency of serious crimes: a murder every 56 minutes, a rape every 17 minutes, and a kidnapping every 10 minutes. On average, 12 cognisable crimes were registered every minute, while 35 complaints were received per minute across India.
India recorded 4,48,211 cases of crimes against women in 2023—a marginal increase of 0.7% over the previous year. The crime rate against women stood at 66.2 per lakh female population.
Also, read| Kerala’s Infant Mortality Rate Drops Drastically To 5; India’s TFR To 1.9
The most commonly reported offences included cruelty by husband or relatives (1,33,676 cases), followed by kidnapping and abduction (88,605 cases), and rape and sexual assault-related crimes (83,891 cases).
Under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 66,232 cases were also registered—highlighting the dual vulnerability faced by women and minors.
Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of crimes against women (66,381), followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and West Bengal.
Cases of crime against children rose to 1,77,335, marking a 9.2% increase from the previous year. Alarmingly, nearly 45% of these cases were related to kidnapping and abduction, while 38.2% were under POCSO. This sharp uptick suggests worsening safety conditions for children, particularly girls.
Caste-based crimes continue to scar India’s social fabric. Crimes against Scheduled Castes (SCs) stood at 57,789 cases, with Uttar Pradesh leading at 15,130 cases, followed by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.
Crimes against Scheduled Tribes (STs) surged by 28.8%, with 12,960 cases reported. Conflict-hit Manipur was the worst affected, while Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan followed closely behind.
India reported 86,420 cybercrime cases in 2023, marking a 31.2% surge over 2022. The majority of these crimes were motivated by fraud (68.9%), followed by extortion and sexual exploitation.
Also, read| UP: 11-Year-Old Girl Gives Birth To Premature Baby After Repeated Rape Blackmail; Infant Dies
The report highlights a consistent year-on-year increase in digital crimes, underscoring the need for stronger cyber policing and public awareness. Karnataka, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of such offences.
The overall crime rate rose from 422.2 (2022) to 448.3 (2023) per lakh population, largely driven by motor vehicle offences, which doubled to 1.92 lakh cases. Crimes affecting the human body—including hurt, rape, and homicide—accounted for 11.85 lakh cases, a 2.3% increase.
Despite a 2.8% dip in murders (27,721 cases), the increasing frequency of violent and gender-based crimes raises serious questions about enforcement, prevention, and victim support systems.
Compiled by the NCRB under the Union Home Ministry, the Crime in India report is a key reference for national law enforcement and policymaking. Based on verified data from all 36 States and Union Territories, the report provides insights into emerging crime patterns, vulnerabilities, and gaps in policing.
