Context: The NCRB Crime in India Report 2024 highlights a decline in overall crime rates, alongside a sharp rise in cybercrime, drug overdose deaths, and offences against the State, reflecting changing dimensions of internal security and social vulnerability.
Key Trends in NCRB Report 2024
- Decline in Overall Crime Rate
- India recorded nearly 58.86 lakh cognisable crimes in 2024, reflecting a 6% decline compared to 2023.
- Of these:
- 35.44 lakh cases were registered under IPC/BNS
- 23.41 lakh cases were registered under Special and Local Laws (SLL)
- The decline indicates improvements in certain conventional crime categories, though emerging crimes continue to expand.
- Sharp Rise in Cybercrime
- Cybercrime cases increased by over 17%, rising from 86,420 cases (2023) to 1,01,928 cases (2024).
- Major motives behind cybercrime include:
- Fraud → 72.6% cases
- Sexual exploitation → 3.1%
- Extortion → 2.5%
- India’s rapid digital expansion has simultaneously increased exposure to technology-enabled criminal activities.
- Increase in Offences Against the State
- Cases related to offences “against the State” increased by 6.6%, rising from 4,873 (2023) to 5,194 (2024).
- Major laws invoked include:
- Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act → 84.6% cases
- UAPA → 12.5% cases
About Cybercrime
- The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) defines cybercrime as any unlawful activity where a computer system, digital network, or electronic device is used either as a tool or target of crime.
- Conventional cyber offences include:
- Malware attacks
- Ransomware intrusions
- Phishing and vishing frauds
- Identity theft and financial scams
- Emerging threats increasingly include:
- Digital arrest scams
- Deepfake-enabled frauds
- Cryptojacking operations
- Crime-as-a-Service (CaaS) networks
- Cybercrime has evolved from isolated digital fraud into a sophisticated ecosystem driven by organised transnational networks.
Reasons Behind the Rise in Cybercrime
- Rapid Digital Penetration
- Expansion of platforms such as UPI, Aadhaar, DigiLocker, and digital banking systems has significantly widened India’s digital attack surface.
- Increased internet penetration and smartphone usage have created vast opportunities for cybercriminal exploitation.
- Organised and Commercialised Cybercrime
- The emergence of Cybercrime-as-a-Service (CaaS) has commercialised cyber offences by enabling even low-skilled individuals to purchase advanced hacking tools on the dark web.
- Cybercrime networks now function through specialised roles involving data theft, financial fraud, malware deployment, and money laundering.
- Transnational Criminal Infrastructure
- Investigations by the CBI revealed that Indian citizens were trafficked to foreign-operated “scam factories” in Southeast Asia and coerced into executing cyber fraud operations.
- Such networks are linked to:
- Fake loan application frauds
- Cryptocurrency-enabled trafficking
- Call-centre extortion syndicates
- Technological Sophistication of Criminals
- Cybercriminals increasingly exploit:
- VPNs and encrypted networks
- Blockchain-based anonymity
- Decentralised storage systems
- End-to-End encrypted communication platforms
- Technologies such as 5G networks and OTT communication systems have further complicated lawful interception and digital surveillance.
- Cybercriminals increasingly exploit:
- Legal and Institutional Deficiencies
- Existing concerns include:
- Outdated provisions under the IT Act, 2000
- Weak accountability of digital intermediaries
- Limited cyber forensic infrastructure
- Acute shortage of trained cyber investigators
- Existing concerns include:
Impact of Rising Cybercrime
- Massive Financial Losses
- India reportedly lost more than ₹31,500 crore between 2019–24 due to cyber-enabled financial frauds.
- Threat to Critical Infrastructure
- Ransomware attacks increasingly target Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) such as:
- Power grids
- Banking networks
- Telecom infrastructure
- Ransomware attacks increasingly target Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) such as:
- Social and Psychological Consequences
- Victims of sextortion, cyberstalking, deepfake exploitation etc often suffer severe psychological trauma, reputational harm, and social isolation.
- AI-driven deepfakes increasingly target students and vulnerable individuals, intensifying mental health concerns.
- Repeated cyber frauds are weakening public confidence in:
- Digital payment infrastructure
- Online financial services
- E-governance platforms
Government Initiatives to Tackle Cybercrime
- Legal and Regulatory Framework
- Cyber offences are addressed under:
- Information Technology Act, 2000
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- Special and Local Laws (SLL)
- Key provisions include:
- Section 69A: Blocking harmful digital content
- Section 79: Intermediary liability and safe-harbour protection
- Section 70B: Establishment of CERT-In
- Cyber offences are addressed under:
- Institutional Mechanisms
- Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) serves as the national coordination hub and operates:
- Helpline 1930
- National Cybercrime Reporting Portal
- CERT-In handles cybersecurity incidents and issues national advisories.
- NCIIPC safeguards critical infrastructure against cyber threats.
- States such as Kerala (Cyberdome) and Maharashtra have established advanced cyber forensic ecosystems.
- Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) serves as the national coordination hub and operates:
- Technological Interventions
- Deployment of AI and Machine Learning-based fraud detection systems such as:
- NPCI’s Fraud Risk Management (FRM) system
- RBI’s MuleHunter.ai
- Development of deepfake detection technologies by MeitY and C-DAC.
- Initiatives such as Cyber Swachhta Kendra focus on malware and botnet mitigation.
- Deployment of AI and Machine Learning-based fraud detection systems such as:
- Public Awareness Measures
- Campaigns such as Cyber Dost and RBI Kehta Hai promote cyber hygiene and digital awareness among citizens.
Challenges in Tackling Cybercrime
- Jurisdictional and Cross-Border Constraints
- Cybercriminals frequently operate from foreign jurisdictions, complicating investigation, extradition, and prosecution processes.
- Limited Enforcement Capacity
- Law enforcement agencies continue to face shortages of:
- Cyber forensic experts
- Digital investigation tools
- Trained manpower
- Law enforcement agencies continue to face shortages of:
- Weak International Coordination
- Delays in cross-border data sharing and absence of harmonised legal frameworks hinder timely enforcement.
- Rapid Evolution of Technology
- AI-driven frauds and encrypted communication technologies evolve much faster than existing regulatory mechanisms.
Way Forward
- Amend the IT Act to incorporate:
- Stricter penalties
- Comprehensive cybercrime provisions
- Victim compensation frameworks
- Enhance Intermediary Accountability
- Mandate appointment of local grievance officers and ensure time-bound removal of unlawful digital content.
- Expand cyber forensic laboratories and strengthen specialised training for:
- Police personnel
- Prosecutors
- Judicial officers
- Deepen International Cooperation
- Establish dedicated cyber liaison frameworks and faster cross-border information-sharing mechanisms.
- Expand investment in:
- AI-driven threat intelligence
- Quantum-resistant encryption systems
- Blockchain verification technologies
- Promote Public Cyber Awareness
- Conduct multilingual cyber literacy and financial fraud awareness campaigns targeting vulnerable populations.
Conclusion
- Addressing this challenge requires moving beyond reactive policing towards a framework centred on preventive governance, technological preparedness, and international cooperation. Building a secure and trusted digital ecosystem will remain indispensable for safeguarding India’s economic growth and democratic future.
