Why in News?

• The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has released its Crime in India 2023 report (after a two-year gap), highlighting a significant increase in cybercrime cases.
• The data reflects growing vulnerabilities in India’s digital ecosystem, with fraud, extortion, and sexual exploitation emerging as dominant motives behind such crimes.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Key Findings of the Report
• Cybercrime Trends
• State-Wise Data on Cribercrime
• Economic Offences (Broader Category)
• Analysis and Implications
• Conclusion

Key Findings of the Report:

• Overall crime statistics:
  • The data reflects a 7.2% overall increase in recorded crimes, reaching 6.24 million cases (crimes every five seconds on average in 2023).
  • Traditional violent crimes such as murder (↓2.8%) and rape (↓5.9%) have declined.
  • But cybercrime, economic offences, and miscellaneous crimes like obstruction on public way (Sec.283 IPC - ↑62%) and Motor Vehicle Act violations (↑103%) have surged.
• Offences against vulnerable sections:
  • Crime against women: Marginal rise of 0.7% (448,211 cases).
  • Crimes against SCs: ↑0.4% (57,789 cases).
  • Crimes against children: ↑9.2%.
  • Crimes against STs: ↑28.8%.

Cybercrime Trends:

• Rising: Cybercrime cases rose 31.2% in 2023, reaching 86,420 cases compared to 65,893 in 2022. The cybercrime rate increased from 4.8% in 2022 to 6.2% in 2023.
• Consistent rise since 2018:
  • 2018 – 27,248 cases
  • 2019 – 44,735 cases
  • 2020 – 50,035 cases
  • 2021 – 52,974 cases
  • 2022 – 65,893 cases
  • 2023 – 86,420 cases
• Motives behind cybercrimes:
  • Fraud: 68.9% of total cases (59,526 cases) – the largest category.
  • Sexual exploitation: 4.9% (4,199 cases).
  • Extortion: 3.8% (3,326 cases).

State-Wise Data on Cribercrime:

• Karnataka: Highest with 21,889 cases in 2023 (sharp rise from 8,136 in 2021 and 12,556 in 2022). Included 18,166 cases of cheating by personation and 1,007 obscene video transfers.
• Telangana: 18,236 cases in 2023 (up from 15,297 in 2022).
• Uttar Pradesh: 10,794 cases in 2023 (up from 10,117 in 2022).

Economic Offences (Broader Category):

• Total cases in 2023: 2,04,973 (6% increase from 1,93,385 in 2022).
• Categories:
  • Forgery, cheating and fraud (FCF) – 1,81,553 cases.
  • Criminal breach of trust – 22,759 cases.
  • Counterfeiting – 661 cases.

Analysis and Implications:

• Crime patterns shifting: From traditional violent crimes to economic and technology-driven crimes.
• Shift in crime categorisation and tracking: It is the last annual report under the IPC, as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) came into force in July 2024.
• Digital fraud: It is the biggest challenge in India’s cybercrime landscape. The concentration of cases in Karnataka, Telangana, and UP suggests urbanisation, IT penetration, and digital adoption are key drivers.
• Economic offences’ steady rise: Highlights the need for robust financial cybersecurity mechanisms.

Way Ahead:

• Strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure and digital literacy programs are crucial.
• Equipping law enforcement agencies: With advanced cyber forensic tools and training.
• Enhanced public-private collaboration: In monitoring, prevention, and quick response mechanisms.
• Multi-stakeholder approach: Covering government, judiciary, tech companies, and citizens—can mitigate risks and build a resilient digital ecosystem.