NCRB REPORT HIGHLIGHTS RISE IN CYBER CRIMES
Why in the News?
- National Crime Records Bureau released crime statistics for 2024 showing an overall 6% decline in crime cases.
- However, cyber crimes increased by nearly 18%, emerging as a major internal security and governance concern.
Key findings of the NCRB report
- Overall crime trend: Total registered crimes declined from 62.41 lakh in 2023 to 58.85 lakh in 2024.
- Cyber crime rise: Cases increased from 86,420 to 1,01,928, with fraud accounting for over 72% of incidents.
- Economic offences: Rose by 4.6%, dominated by forgery, cheating and fraud cases.
- Missing children: Around 98,375 children went missing, with girls forming the majority.
- Crimes against women: Slight decline observed, though domestic cruelty remained the leading offence.
Implications and emerging concerns
- Digital vulnerability: Rapid digitisation and online transactions have expanded the scope for cyber fraud and exploitation.
- Internal security challenge: Cyber offences increasingly threaten financial systems, privacy, and national cybersecurity.
- Women and child safety: Persistent crimes indicate gaps in social protection and law enforcement mechanisms.
- Regional disparities: States like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh reported high crimes against SCs and STs.
- Need for reforms: Strengthening cyber policing, digital literacy, forensic capabilities, and judicial efficiency is crucial.
| National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) ● Establishment: NCRB was set up in 1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs. ● Primary role: Acts as the central agency for crime data collection, analysis, and publication in India. ● Major publication: Releases the annual Crime in India Report. ● Functions: Supports criminal tracking systems, fingerprint databases, and crime analytics. ● UPSC relevance: Important for internal security, governance, social justice, and policing reforms (GS Paper II & III). |