Maarg Manthan · Topic 18.7

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Report

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Important Reports, Indices and Surveys · Topic 18.7

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is the agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, set up in 1986 and based in New Delhi, that collects and publishes national crime statistics. Its main reports are Crime in India, published since 1953, Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India, and Prison Statistics India. Crime in India 2023, released on 30 September 2025, recorded about 62.4 lakh cognisable crimes, up 7.2 per cent from 2022, with a crime rate of 448.3 per lakh population. Crime in India 2024, released in May 2026 and the first to include Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita data, recorded about 58.9 lakh cases, as reported.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Important Reports, Indices and Surveys

At a Glance

Agency NCRB, Ministry of Home Affairs
Set up 1986
Main report Crime in India, since 1953
Crime in India 2023 62.4 lakh cases, rate 448.3
Crime in India 2024 About 58.9 lakh cases, as reported
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Important Reports, Indices and Surveys

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the justice report, because NCRB data feeds the police, prison and crime indicators. It also supports questions on cybercrime and on crimes against women and children. Previous topic: Survey of India, Dehradun Ministry Environment, Forest and Climate Change Frequency Biennial, from 1987 Latest verified…">India State of Forest Report (ISFR). Next topic: NITI Aayog Method Alkire-Foster, with UNDP and OPHI Indicators 12 across 3 dimensions Baseline (NFHS-4) 25.01 per cent…">Multidimensional Poverty Index (India-Specific, NITI Aayog).

What Does the NCRB Publish?

Publication	Content
Crime in India	Annual statistics on cognisable crimes under the Indian Penal Code, now the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and special and local laws, published since 1953
Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI)	Annual data on accidental deaths and suicides, with causes and profiles
Prison Statistics India	Data on prisons, inmates, undertrials, capacity and expenditure
Fingerprint Bureau reports	Fingerprint data and the national database of fingerprints
Data source	State and Union Territory police forces through the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), which links police stations
Parent body	Ministry of Home Affairs, with a Director who is a senior Indian Police Service officer

What Do the Latest NCRB Reports Show?

Crime in India 2023: Released on 30 September 2025. Total cognisable crimes were about 62.4 lakh, up 7.2 per cent from 2022, and the crime rate rose from 422.2 to 448.3 per lakh population, as reported
Cybercrime in 2023: Cases rose about 31.2 per cent to 86,420, with fraud, extortion and sexual exploitation among the main motives, as reported
Crimes against women 2023: About 4.48 lakh cases, a rise of 0.7 per cent, at a rate of around 66.2 per lakh women, as reported
Crimes against children 2023: About 1.77 lakh cases, up 9.2 per cent, as reported
Crime in India 2024: Released in May 2026, it recorded about 58.9 lakh cases and a crime rate near 418.9, a fall of about 6 per cent, partly because of definition changes under the new criminal laws, as reported
Cybercrime in 2024: Cybercrime cases crossed one lakh for the first time, as reported
Children and seniors 2024: Crimes against children rose to about 1.88 lakh cases, and crimes against senior citizens rose about 16.9 per cent, as reported
Verification: Figures are as reported from NCRB releases through press coverage, and readers should check the official report before using exact numbers

What Else Should You Remember?

Full name: NCRB stands for the National Crime Records Bureau, and it was set up on the recommendation of the National Police Commission and the Task Force on Computerisation of Police
Cognisable offence: An offence in which police can arrest without a warrant and start investigation without a magistrate order, as defined under the criminal procedure law
Crime rate: Number of cases per lakh population, which allows comparison across states with different sizes
Charge-sheeting rate: The share of cases in which a charge sheet was filed. For 2023, the rate for Indian Penal Code cases was about 72.7 per cent, as reported
New criminal laws: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita came into force on 1 July 2024, so the 2024 report is the first to carry BNS data, as in The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (Replacing IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act)
Registration effect: A higher number of cases may reflect better registration and not more crime, which is a standard caution when reading the data
Link to justice delivery: Police capacity and case outcomes are scored in the India Justice Report, as in India Justice Report
Cyber law: Cybercrime is covered by the Information Technology Act, 2000 and now by the new criminal code
Digital Personal Data link: Data protection duties relate to online fraud and misuse, as in The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
Limitations: Underreporting, differences in state practice and delays in reports limit comparison
Common mistakes: Saying NCRB is under the Ministry of Law and Justice or that a rising number always means rising crime

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Agency: NCRB, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, set up in 1986
Reports: Crime in India, ADSI, Prison Statistics India
Latest: 2023 report on 30 September 2025 and 2024 report in May 2026
Data link: CCTNS
Common errors: Placing NCRB under another ministry or mixing cases with crime rate

As an analytical point, crime statistics are only as good as registration. Easy, honest filing of complaints, together with rapid conviction, matters more than a falling number of registered cases.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Agency One-liners
Cybercrime Growing theme
Data Latest reports

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the National Multidimensional Poverty Index. Next topic: Multidimensional Poverty Index (India-Specific, NITI Aayog).

Key People and Terms

Cognisable Arrest without warrant allowed
Crime rate Cases per lakh population
CCTNS Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems
ADSI Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India
Charge sheet Police report after investigation
Undertrial Prisoner awaiting trial

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

NCRB set up: 1986, under MHA.
Crime in India since 1953.
2023 report: 30 September 2025.
2024 report: May 2026, first with BNS.
Data via CCTNS.

Do Not Confuse With

NCRB and BPR&D Crime data versus police research body
Crime in India and ADSI Crimes versus deaths and suicides
Crime rate and number of cases Per lakh versus total

Memory Hook

1986 NCRB, MHA home, CCTNS feeds, Crime in India since 1953.

Mains Angle

Mains questions ask about trends in crime and cyber threats. These points give a balanced frame.

Trend Cybercrime rising
Caution Registration effect
Way Capacity and forensics

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Analyse recent trends in crime in India using NCRB data and discuss the challenges in interpreting and responding to them.”

How to Answer

Trend Cases and cyber rise.
Caution Underreporting, law change.
Response Police capacity.
Way Forensics and trust.

GS Relevance

Prelims: NCRB mandate, reports, latest data. GS Paper 3: internal security, cybercrime. GS Paper 2: police, governance, crimes against women and children.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Crime Records Bureau?

The National Crime Records Bureau is the agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, set up in 1986 and based in New Delhi, that collects and publishes crime data. Its main reports are Crime in India, Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India and Prison Statistics India.

Who publishes the Crime in India report?

The National Crime Records Bureau publishes Crime in India every year, using data from state and Union Territory police compiled through the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems. The series started in 1953, and the bureau functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

What did Crime in India 2023 report?

Crime in India 2023, released on 30 September 2025, recorded about 62.4 lakh cognisable crimes, a rise of 7.2 per cent over 2022, with a crime rate of 448.3 per lakh population. Cybercrime rose about 31.2 per cent to 86,420 cases, as reported.

What is the latest NCRB Crime in India report?

The latest verified is Crime in India 2024, released in May 2026, as reported. It recorded about 58.9 lakh cases, a fall of about 6 per cent, partly due to changes after the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and cybercrime crossed one lakh cases for the first time.

Why can NCRB data be misleading?

Crime figures depend on registration, so a rise can reflect better reporting and a fall can reflect underreporting. State practices differ, and the shift from the Indian Penal Code to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in July 2024 changed how some offences are counted, limiting year-to-year comparison.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 NCRB functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

True

It was set up in 1986.

2 NCRB publishes the Global Hunger Index.

False

It publishes crime and prison data.

3 Crime in India has been published since 1953.