A new report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveals concerning increases in crime rates across multiple categories in 2022. The annual Crime in India report analyses data from all 36 states and union territories, providing critical insights into national crime trends. Violence Against Women Continues Unabated Per the NCRB statistics, crimes against women rose 4% to over 445,000 reported cases last year. Experts pointed to persistent high rates of domestic violence along with alarming increases in kidnapping, sexual assault and rape. Rajasthan led rape case numbers, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Haryana. Child Crimes Also See Disturbing Jump In 2022, over 160,000 children fell victim to crimes- an 8.7% year-on-year increase. Abduction and kidnapping made up nearly half of such cases, while over 39% involved sexual offences. Advocates noted the troubling vulnerability of young people across India. Elder Abuse Numbers Worsen For senior citizens, crimes increased 9.3% with over 28,000 reported cases last year. Physical harm, theft, fraud and forgery threats remain prevalent, experts emphasized. Marginalised Communities Face Higher Risks The NCRB statistics reveal increased victimization of marginalised groups. Crimes against Scheduled Castes rose 13.1% while those against Scheduled Tribes jumped 14.3% last year. Activists argued for more protective measures and support. Economic and Cyber Crimes Also See Major Increases Over 170,000 economic crimes amounted to an 11.1% increase in 2022. Meanwhile, the digital realm proved increasingly dangerous with cyber crimes surging 24.4% to nearly 66,000 cases.As crime rates climb across the board, lawmakers face pressure to address the NCRB reports alarming findings with both targeted interventions and systemic reforms, advocates say.
