India: crime and justice

What is the crime rate in India?

58,85,867 cognizable crimes were registered in India in 2024, a crime rate of 418.9 per lakh (100,000) population, down from 448.3 in 2023, according to the National Crime Records Bureau report Crime in India 2024. Registrations fell 6.0% on 2023. Crimes under the Indian Penal Code and the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita made up 60.2% of cases, and crimes under special and local laws 39.8%.

These are cases registered by police, not convictions, so they depend on how readily crimes are reported and recorded. 2024 was the year the new criminal laws replaced the Indian Penal Code on 1 July, so the report counts cases under both. NCRB notes that higher registration can reflect better reporting rather than more crime.

Official sources: NCRB: Crime in India 2024, Volume I (PDF)

How many murders are there in India each year?

27,049 cases of murder were registered in India in 2024, a decline of 2.4% from 27,721 in 2023, according to the National Crime Records Bureau report Crime in India 2024. Disputes were the most common motive (9,607 cases), followed by personal vendetta or enmity (3,638) and gain (1,460).

The figures count cases registered by police, and one case can involve more than one victim. Motives are as recorded by the police at registration. State and city tables, with rates per lakh population, are in the same report, along with figures on attempted murder and culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Official sources: NCRB: Crime in India 2024, Volume I (PDF)

How many crimes against women are reported in India?

4,41,534 cases of crime against women were registered in India in 2024, down 1.5% from 4,48,211 in 2023, according to the National Crime Records Bureau report Crime in India 2024. The crime rate per lakh women was 64.6, compared with 66.2 in 2023. The largest category was cruelty by husband or relatives (1,20,227 cases, 27.2%).

Other large categories were kidnapping and abduction of women, cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act involving girls, and assault on women with intent to outrage their modesty. These are registered cases, so they reflect both offending and willingness to report. State-wise figures are in the report's chapter 3.

Official sources: NCRB: Crime in India 2024, Volume I (PDF)

How many cyber crimes are reported in India?

1,01,928 cyber crime cases were registered in India in 2024, an increase of 17.9% on 86,420 in 2023, according to the National Crime Records Bureau report Crime in India 2024. The cyber crime rate rose from 6.2 to 7.3 per lakh population. Fraud was the motive in 72.6% of cases (73,987), followed by sexual exploitation and extortion.

NCRB counts cases registered as first information reports. Many complaints made to the national cyber crime reporting portal and helpline 1930 do not become registered cases, so complaint numbers published by the Ministry of Home Affairs are much higher than these figures.

Official sources: NCRB: Crime in India 2024, Volume I (PDF)

How many prisoners are there in India?

5,04,049 Indian nationals were held in India's jails on 31 December 2024, according to the National Crime Records Bureau Prison Statistics India 2024. Of these, 3,65,899 (72.6%) were undertrials awaiting the end of their case, 1,34,507 (26.7%) were convicts and 3,008 were detenues. Uttar Pradesh had the most inmates (86,326), followed by Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

Undertrials are people in custody whose trial is not complete; most are not convicted of any offence. The count covers Indian nationals only; foreign nationals are counted separately in the report. NCRB used 2023 data for West Bengal because 2024 data were not received.

Official sources: NCRB: Prison Statistics India 2024, Chapter 3 (PDF)

How many murders are there in India?

The latest figure from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, for 2022, is 2.8 per 100,000. No year since 2005 has been lower. Of 99 countries with 2022 data, 43rd highest.

What is the female homicide rate in India?

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the homicide rate for women in India was 2.4 per 100,000 in 2022. No year since 2005 has been lower. World rank, highest first: 29th of 94.

How many men are killed in India?

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the homicide rate for men in India was 3.2 per 100,000 in 2022. No year since 2005 has been lower. Of 93 countries with 2022 data, 43rd highest.

How many people have been killed in fighting in India?

The Uppsala Conflict Data Program puts battle-related deaths in India at 437 in 2024. The peak was 1,382 in 2005 and the low 217 in 2023. Worldwide: 17th of 41.