Table of Contents
Introduction
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released its annual report on crime in India for 2022. it revealed some shocking statistics on crime rates in India.
The NCRB report is usually made public by July or August annually. However, this year (2023), it was delayed by at least five months. The report is titled “Crime in India 2022” and is based on data collected from 28 states and 8 Union territories and central agencies.
NCRB
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) was established in January 1986 under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs NCRB. Its primary role is to compile and maintain national crime statistics, acting as a central repository for criminal data. The reports encompass various criminal activities, including crimes against women, cybercrimes, economic offenses, and more.
Highlights from the 2022 NCRB Report
- The report registered a total of 58,24,946 cognizable crimes, including 35,61,379 IPC crimes and 22,63,567 Special and Local Laws (SLL) crimes.
- The crime rate declined from 445.9 in 2021 to 422.2 in 2022 per lakh population. Crime Rate
- There were 4,45,256 cases, marking a 4% increase from 2021. Crime against Women
- A significant increase of 24.4% from 2021, totaling 65,893 cases. Cyber Crimes
- An increase of 4.2% in suicides, totaling 1,70,924 cases in 2022.Suicides
Crime against Women
Cases of crime against women in our society have increased by 4% from the previous year.
- Delhi registered the highest rate of crime against women in the country at 144.4, way above India’s average rate of 66.4.
- The latest crime report highlights a concerning rise in crimes against women in 2022, with 4,45,256 registered cases, showing a 4% uptick from the previous year.
- The majority of these cases involve cruelty by spouses or relatives (31.4%), followed by kidnapping and abduction (19.2%), assault “with intent to outrage modesty” (18.7%), and rape (7.1%).
- Rajasthan reported the highest number of rape cases (5,399 out of 31,516), followed by Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Haryana. In 2022, Delhi reported 1,212 rape cases.
- The crime rate, measured per lakh women population, increased slightly from 64.5 in 2021 to 66.4 in 2022, emphasizing the need for focused efforts to address and combat crimes against women.
- Previously, the crime rate against women (number of incidents per 1 lakh population) increased from 56.5% in 2020 to 64.5% in 2021.
Cybercrimes
- In 2022, cybercrime cases in the national capital nearly doubled, indicating a 24% surge across India compared to 2021.
- The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported a notable increase in economic offences (11%), crimes against senior citizens (9%), and crimes against women (4%).
- This alarming trend emphasizes the need for heightened awareness and protective measures against digital threats as the number of cybercrimes has drastically increased from 52,974 in 2021 to 65,893 in 2022.
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Suicides and accidental deaths
National Crime Records Bureau has highlighted a concerning increase in both suicides and accidental deaths in India.
- In 2022, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) revealed a concerning rise in suicides, reaching 1,70,924 compared to 1,64,033 in 2021.
- Accidental deaths also saw an increase, going to 4,30,504 in 2022 from 3,97,530 in 2021.
- Even, a psychiatrist in September 2022 pointed out to IndiaSpend, several reasons for potential underreporting, such as the lack of medical certification, the stigma surrounding mental health, and the impact of criminalization. Sometimes, the denial of insurance claims for suicide-related deaths adds to the challenges.
- Previously, in 2021, India recorded its highest-ever suicide rate, with 12 suicides for every 100,000 people, as reported by IndiaSpend. However, experts believe the actual numbers might be higher.
Challenges and Limitations of NCRB Data
- This rule might lead to underreporting of certain types of crimes.
- Local-level inefficiencies or gaps can affect the overall accuracy of the report.
- The report does not capture the deeper socio-economic reasons behind crimes.
- Fear of police response or societal stigma may lead to underreporting of crimes.