Rise in cybercrime but overall crime rate dropped in 2024, says latest NCRB report

According to the Crime in India 2024 report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, the overall crime rate in India decreased in 2024 compared to 2023, but there was an increase of over 17% in cybercrime cases.

Under cybercrimes, a total of 1,01,928 cases were recorded in 2024 compared to 86,420 cases in the previous year.

“72.6% (73,987 out of 1,01,928 cases) of cybercrime cases recorded in 2024 were for fraudulent purposes, followed by sexual exploitation at 3.1% (3,190 cases) and extortion at 2.5% (2,536 cases),” the report said.

NCRB recorded 58.86 lakh cognizable offenses across the country in 2024; This represents a decrease of 6% compared to the previous year. Of these, 35.44 lakh cases were registered under the Indian Penal Code and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), while 23.41 lakh cases were registered under special and local laws.

In 2024, 5,194 cases of crimes “against the state” were recorded; In 2023, this figure increased by 6.6% to 4,873. “Of the 5,194 cases, 4,395 (84.6%) cases were registered under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, followed by 649 (12.5%) cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,” the report said.

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Crime against SC/ST

The report revealed that a total of 55,698 cases were registered for crimes against Scheduled Castes (SCs); This number represents a decrease of 3.6% compared to 2023, when 57,789 cases were recorded. Crimes against Scheduled Tribes also showed a sharp decline of 23.1% with a total of 9,966 cases in 2024 compared to 12,960 cases in 2023.

NCRB also released the Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) 2024 report; Accordingly, 1,70,746 suicides will be recorded in 2024. Those associated with the agricultural sector, the unemployed, and daily wage workers constituted a significant portion of deaths due to suicide.

In 2024, a total of 10,546 people working in the agricultural sector (4,633 farmers/agriculturalists and 5,913 agricultural workers) died due to suicide, which corresponds to 6.2%. The report states that out of 4,633 farmer/agriculturist suicides, a total of 4,481 were male and 152 were female. The report stated that approximately 31 percent of total suicides occurred among daily wagers. The number of unemployed people who died by suicide was 14 thousand 778, and the number of students and housewives who committed suicide was 14 thousand 488 and 22 thousand 113, respectively.

Drug overdose-related deaths increased by 50% in 2024 compared to the previous year. The report stated that 978 people will die in 2024, down from 650 deaths in 2023 due to drug overdose. According to NCRB data, Tamil Nadu reported 313 deaths, the highest number of drug overdose deaths. This was followed by Punjab 106, Madhya Pradesh 90, Rajasthan 69 and Mizoram 65.

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