Crime in India

Crime rate in India 2021 (crime per 100,000 population)[1]
Murder2.1
Rape4.8
Kidnapping7.4
Death by road accidents10.1
Dowry deaths1.0
Grievous hurt6.6
Sexual harassment2.6
Human trafficking0.1
Riots3.1
Theft42.9
Burglary7.2
Extortion0.8
Robbery2.1
Forgery, cheating & fraud11.1
Drugs trafficking2.4
Illegal arms3.3
Crimes against children33.6
Cyber crime3.9
Crimes against children rate is calculated per 100,000 children population

Crime in India has been recorded since the British Raj, with comprehensive statistics now compiled annually by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), under the Ministry of Home Affairs (India).

In 2021, a total of 60,96,310 crimes, comprising 36,63,360 Indian Penal Code (IPC) crimes and 24,32,950 Special and Local Laws (SLL) crimes were registered nationwide. It is a 7.65% annual decrease from 66,01,285 crimes in 2020; the crime rate (per 100,000 people) has decreased from 487.8 in 2020 to 445.9 in 2021, but still significantly higher from 385.5 in 2019.[2][3] In 2021, offences affecting the human body contributed 30%, offences against property contributed 20.8%, and miscellaneous IPC crimes contributed 29.7% of all cognizable IPC crimes.[2] Murder rate was 2.1 per 100,000, kidnapping rate was 7.4 per 100,000, and rape rate was 4.8 per 100,000 in 2021.[2] According to the UN, the homicide rate was 2.95 per 100,000 in 2020 with 40,651 recorded, down from a peak of 5.46 per 100,000 in 1992 and essentially unchanged since 2017, higher than most countries in Asia and Europe and lower than most in the Americas and Africa although numerically one of the highest due to the large population.[4]

Investigation rate is calculated as all cases disposed, quashed or withdrawn by police as a percentage of total cases available for investigation. The investigation rate of IPC crimes in India was 64.9% in 2021.[5] Charge-sheeting rate is calculated as all cases, where charges were framed against accused, as a percentage of total cases disposed after investigation. The charge-sheeting rate of IPC crimes in India was 72.3% in 2021.[2] Conviction rate is calculated as all cases, where accused was convicted by court after completion of a trial, as a percentage of total cases where trial was completed. The conviction rate of IPC crimes in India was 57.0% in 2021.[5] In 2021, 51,540 murders were under investigation by police, of which charges were framed in 26,382; and 46,127 rapes were under investigation by police, of which charges were framed in 26,164.[2] In 2021, 2,48,731 murders were under trial in courts, of which conviction was given in 4,304; and 1,85,836 rapes were under trial in courts, of which conviction was given in 3,368.[2] The murder conviction rate was 42.4 and the rape conviction rate was 28.6 in 2021.[2]

  1. ^ "Crime in India 2021 - Statistics Volume 1" (PDF). National Crime Records Bureau.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Crime in India 2021 : Volume 1" (PDF). ncrb.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Crime in India 2018 : Volume 1" (PDF). ncrb.gov.in. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  4. ^ "UNODC". Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Crime Statistics 2021 Vol 3 - NCRB" (PDF).