Why is it in the news?
- The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has released the annual Crime in India Report for 2023.
| About NCRB
· Established in 1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs based on recommendations of the National Police Commission (1977-1981) and MHA’s Task Force (1985). · Responsible for collecting, analyzing crime data, and maintaining national databases related to crime and criminals. |
Findings of the Report
- Increase in Crime: Crimes against women, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), children, cyber-crimes, and offences against the state increased in 2022 compared to 2021.
- Crime Against Women: 4% increase; major cases include ‘cruelty by husband or his relatives,’ ‘kidnapping and abduction of women,’ ‘assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty,’ and ‘rape.’
- Crime Against Children: 7% increase in cases over 2021.
- Juveniles in Conflict with Law: 0% decline in cases; crime rate dropped from 7.0 in 2021 to 6.9 in 2022.
- Crime Against Senior Citizens: 3% increase in registered cases over 2021.
- Cyber Crime: 4% increase in cases over 2021; 64.8% cases related to fraud.
- Decrease in Registration of Crime: 5% decline in registration of cases over 2021. Major decline in cases under ‘disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant’ and ‘other IPC crimes.’
- Chargesheeting: States/UTs with highest Charge-sheeting Rate under IPC Crimes: Kerala (96.0%), Puducherry (91.3%), and West Bengal (90.6%).
- Metropolitan Cities with highest Charge-sheeting Rate under IPC Crimes: Kochi (95.9%), Patna (89.9%), and Kozhikode (89.4%).
- Metropolitan Cities: 19 cities, including Delhi (most unsafe for women), Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. Delhi records on average three rape cases daily.
Measures Taken by Government
| Initiative/Act | Description |
| Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 | Stringent penal provisions, including death penalty for rape of a girl below 12. |
| National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) | Collects, analyses, and publishes crime data for policy formulation and law enforcement. |
| Modernization of Police Forces | Emphasis on infrastructure, equipment, and technology for crime prevention and investigation. |
| Specialized Units | Creation of units to address specific crimes (cybercrime, anti-trafficking, crimes against women and children). |
| National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO) | Maintains a comprehensive database of individuals convicted of sexual offenses. |
| Strengthening Judiciary | Initiatives to expedite legal processes for swift justice. |
| Smart Policing Initiatives | Use of technology for enhanced policing and crime detection. |
| One Stop Centre (OSC) scheme | Provides integrated services for women affected by violence. |
| Emergency Response Support System | Pan-India emergency response system with a single number (112). |
| Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | A bill repealing the IPC, introducing offences of organized crime and terrorism, enhancing penalties, and introducing community service for petty offences. |
