RISING TRENDS IN CYBERCRIME: NCRB DATA ANALYSIS

Why in the News?

Cybercrime witnessed a significant surge in 2022, marking a 24% rise, as per the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data

Key Highlights of the Report:

  • Substantial Increase in Cybercrime: The report reveals a consistent escalation in cybercrime cases over the past five years, growing from 27,248 cases in 2017 to 65,893 cases in 2022.
  • Fraud and Extortion Dominate: The majority of cybercrime cases (64.8%) in 2022 were related to fraud, followed by 5.5% for extortion and 5.2% for sexual exploitation.
  • Cyber Crimes Against Women:
    • Alarming statistics indicate a concerning rise in cyber crimes against women, with Telangana topping the list, reporting 28% of such incidents.
    • Cyber pornography, hosting, and publishing obscene material constituted a significant portion, with 21.8% cases recorded.
  • Cyber Crimes Against Children: 27% of cyber crimes were reported against children, emphasizing the vulnerability of younger demographics to online threats.

Challenges :

  • The report highlights challenges faced by Indian cyber cells, revealing a backlog of over 69,000 pending cases.
  • Despite the surge in cybercrime, the charge-sheeting rate remains low at 29.3% across states.

About National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB):

  • Established in 1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • Headquarter – New Delhi.
  • Created based on recommendations from National Police Commission (1977-1981) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Task Force (1985).
  • Central Nodal Agency for ‘Online Cyber-Crime Reporting Portal.
  • Significant reports :
    • Crimes in India
    • Accidental Deaths and Suicides, etc