The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2024 has once again highlighted the persistent abuse faced by women within their homes and a worrying rise in crimes against children. Crimes against children saw an increase of nearly 6% compared to 2023, according to the latest figures.
Crime Against Women: Domestic Violence Remains Top Concern
In 2024, cases of "cruelty by husband and relatives" continued to dominate the list of crimes against women, accounting for over 1.20 lakh cases, or 27% of the total. Overall, more than 4.41 lakh cases of crime against women were registered in 2024, reflecting a 1.5% decrease from the 4.48 lakh cases recorded in 2023.
The second largest category was "kidnapping and abduction of women," with 67,829 cases (15% of total). This was closely followed by cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which numbered 67,809 cases (15%). "Assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty" accounted for 48,303 cases (10.9%).
The crime rate per lakh women population stood at 64.6 in 2024, down from 66.2 in 2023, indicating a marginal improvement in the overall safety of women.
Crime Against Children: Alarming 5.9% Increase
Crimes against children recorded a significant uptick, with over 1.87 lakh cases registered in 2024, marking a 5.9% increase from the 1.77 lakh cases in 2023. The major categories of crime against children included kidnapping and abduction, which accounted for 75,108 cases (40% of total), and POCSO Act cases, which numbered 69,191 cases (37%).
The crime rate per lakh children population rose to 42.3 in 2024, compared to 39.9 in 2023, underscoring the growing vulnerability of children to crime.
Key Takeaways
- Domestic violence remains the most common crime against women, with over 1.20 lakh cases reported in 2024.
- Kidnapping and abduction of women is the second most prevalent crime, followed closely by sexual offences against children.
- Crime against children increased by 5.9% in 2024, driven primarily by kidnapping and POCSO cases.
- The overall crime rate per lakh population for women decreased slightly, while for children it increased.
