NCRB DATA ON CRIME AGAINST CHILDREN (2023)

Current Context : The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has released data for 2023, showing 1,77,335 cases of crimes against children, an increase of 9.2% over 2022.

ABOUT NCRB DATA

• Overall Cases
  • Total cases: 1,77,335
  • Crime rate: 9 per one lakh child population (up from 36.6 in 2022).
• Major Crime Categories
  • Kidnapping and Abduction: 79,884 cases (45%).
  • POCSO Act cases: 67,694 (38.2%), including 40,434 penetrative sexual assaults.
  • Other crimes: murders (1,219), abetment to suicide (373), child marriage cases (6,038), child labour cases (1,390).
• Victim Demographics
  • Below 6 years: 762 victims.
  • 6–12 years: 3,229 victims.
  • 12–16 years: 15,444 victims.
  • 16–18 years: 21,411 victims.
  • Most victims were girls in rape-related cases.
• Regional Trends
  • Highest cases: Madhya Pradesh (22,393).
  • Next: Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Assam (10,174 cases) and Bihar (9,906) showed sharp rises.
  • Delhi registered 7,769 cases, one of the highest crime rates among Union Territories.
• Police Action
  • Out of 2,57,756 cases investigated, only 1,12,290 were chargesheeted.
  • Chargesheeting rate: 3%