NATIONAL CRIME RECORDS BUREAU (NCRB) REPORT 2023

1. NATIONAL CRIME RECORDS BUREAU (NCRB) REPORT 2023

Context

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released its Crime in India Report 2023 after a two-year gap. The report highlights the rising role of cybercrime, continued concerns over road accidents, farmer suicides, and crimes against vulnerable communities, while also reflecting shifts in traditional violent crimes.

Overview and Trends

The 2023 NCRB report provides a comprehensive account of crime patterns in India, noting both increases in modern forms of crime and slight declines in conventional violent crimes.

Key Highlights:

• Overall Crime Trend: Total crimes in India increased by 7.2%, meaning one crime was reported every five seconds.
   
• Cybercrime:
   
  • Cases surged from 27,248 in 2018 to 86,420 in 2023.
     
  • A sharp 31% rise was recorded between 2022 (65,000 cases) and 2023.
     
  • Major categories: fraud, financial scams, and sexual exploitation online.
     
  • Cybercrime Hotspots: Karnataka (leading in obscene content cases), Telangana (18,236 cases), and Uttar Pradesh.
     
• Road Accidents:
   
  • Fatalities reached 1.73 lakh in 2023, a 1.6% increase from 2022.
     
  • Key causes: over-speeding (58.6%) and rash driving/overtaking (23.6%).
     
• Economic Offenses: Recorded a 6% increase, with around 2.49 lakh cases (cheating, fraud, counterfeit currency).
   
• Crimes Against Foreigners: Jumped by 24%; Delhi topped the list with 63 cases.
   
• Farmer Suicides: 10,786 farmers and agricultural workers died by suicide in 2023. Maharashtra and Karnataka reported the highest numbers, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
   
• Traditional Violent Crimes:
   
  • Murder cases fell by 2.8%.
     
  • Rape cases declined by 5.9%.
     
• Modern Offenses: Violations under the Motor Vehicle Act grew by over 103%, reflecting changing urban challenges.
   

Crimes Against Vulnerable Groups

The report highlights worrying increases in crimes against socially vulnerable populations.

• Women: Crimes against women rose by 0.7%.
   
• Scheduled Castes (SCs): Crimes increased by 0.4%.
   
• Scheduled Tribes (STs): Reported a sharp rise of 28.8%, raising major concerns.
   
• Children: Cases went up by 9.2%, reaching 177,735 incidents in 2023.
   
  • Highest incidence in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra (around 22,000 cases each), followed by Uttar Pradesh (18,000 cases).
     
  • Major categories included trafficking, online abuse, and cases under the POCSO Act.
     

Analysis and Recommendations

The NCRB data underlines India’s evolving criminal landscape, with digital crimes posing the greatest challenge.

Challenges:

• Escalating cyber fraud and digital exploitation.
   
• Capacity limitations in policing and judicial handling of technology-driven crimes.
   
• Vulnerability of rural and tribal communities to exploitation.
   

Recommendations:

• Strengthening cybersecurity frameworks and digital infrastructure.
   
• Police reforms with enhanced technical training and forensic capabilities.
   
• Public awareness and digital literacy campaigns to prevent online fraud.
   
• Public–Private Partnerships (PPP): Collaboration between government agencies, judiciary, technology firms, and civil society for effective crime prevention.
   
• Special focus on child protection, tribal security, and farmer distress.
   

About the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)

• Establishment: Created in 1986.
   
• Background: Set up on the recommendations of the Tandon Committee, National Police Commission (NPC), and a Task Force of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
   
• Controlling Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
   
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
   

Conclusion

The National Crime Records Bureau Report 2023 reflects a complex scenario where conventional crimes decline but cybercrimes, economic frauds, and vehicular violations surge, alongside rising atrocities against vulnerable communities, demanding systemic reforms, technological policing, judicial efficiency, and participatory governance.