SYLLABUS

GS-2: Government policies; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Human Resources.

GS-3: Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security.

Context: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released the Crime in India 2024 and Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI) 2024 reports, highlighting an overall decline in crime rates but a sharp rise in cybercrimes, suicides linked to socio-economic distress, and drug overdose deaths.

About the Report

• The Crime in India report is an annual publication of the National Crime Records Bureau under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. 

• It compiles nationwide data on cognisable crimes registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Special & Local Laws (SLLs). 

• The report provides detailed statistics on crimes against women, children, SCs/STs, cybercrimes, economic offences, juveniles, senior citizens, human trafficking, and offences against the state. 

• Alongside it, the Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI) 2024 report presents data on suicides, accidental deaths, drug overdose deaths, and socio-economic patterns linked to mortality. 

Key Findings of the Report

• Overall Crime Trends: A total of 58.85 lakh cognisable crimes were registered in 2024, marking a 6% decline from 62.41 lakh cases in 2023. 

• The national crime rate declined from 448.3 to 418.9 cases per lakh population. 
• IPC/BNS crimes constituted 60.2% of total crimes, while Special & Local Laws (SLL) cases accounted for 39.8%. 

• Cyber Crimes: Cybercrime cases increased by 17.9%, rising from 86,420 cases in 2023 to 1,01,928 cases in 2024. 

• Fraud was the dominant motive behind cybercrimes, accounting for 72.6% of total cases. 
• Sexual exploitation and extortion were the next major categories. 

• Crime Against Women: Crimes against women declined marginally by 1.5%, with 4.41 lakh cases recorded in 2024. 

• “Cruelty by husband or relatives” remained the largest category, followed by kidnapping and assault with intent to outrage modesty. 
• Telangana recorded the highest crime rate against women, while Delhi reported the highest number of such cases among metropolitan cities. 
• Chandigarh recorded the highest rape crime rate in the country. 

• Crimes Against Children: Crimes against children increased by 5.9%, reaching 1,87,702 cases. 

• Kidnapping and abduction of children and offences under the POCSO Act formed the largest share. 
• Missing children cases rose by 7.8%, with 98,375 children reported missing in 2024. 

• SC/ST Atrocities: Crimes against Scheduled Castes declined by 3.6% to 55,698 cases. 

• Crimes against Scheduled Tribes showed a sharper decline of 23.1%, with 9,966 cases recorded. 
• Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of crimes against SCs, while Madhya Pradesh reported the highest number of crimes against STs. 

• Economic and Other Offences: Economic offences increased by 4.6%, reaching 2,14,379 cases, largely driven by cheating, forgery, and fraud. 

• Offences against the state rose by 6.6%, with most cases registered under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and the UAPA. 
• Human trafficking cases declined marginally by 2.2%, though over 6,000 victims were reported trafficked. 

• Juveniles and Senior Citizens: Cases involving juveniles in conflict with law increased by 11.2%, with most juveniles belonging to the 16–18 years age group. 

• Crimes against senior citizens rose sharply by 16.9%, with theft and cheating/fraud being the leading offences. 

Suicide and Drug Overdose Deaths (ADSI Report)

• India recorded 1,70,746 suicides in 2024. 

• Daily wage workers accounted for nearly 31% of suicides. 

• The farming sector recorded 10,546 suicides, including farmers/cultivators and agricultural labourers. 

• Student suicides stood at 14,488, while 22,113 housewives died by suicide. 

• Deaths due to drug overdose increased by nearly 50%, rising from 650 in 2023 to 978 deaths in 2024. 

• Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of drug overdose deaths. 

Sources:
The Hindu
New India Express
The Hindu
Indian Express