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Current Affairs 8th May 2026Open Popup

NCRB’s Crime in India 2024 Report

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released the ‘Crime in India – 2024’ report. While the data shows an overall 6% decline in cognisable crimes across the country, it highlights a stark 17% surge in cybercrimes, reflecting a rapid transition from traditional physical offences to sophisticated borderless digital crimes. 

• The NCRB also released the Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI) 2024 report, according to which 1,70,746 suicides were recorded in 2024. Deaths due to drug overdose saw a 50% increase in 2024 compared with 2023.

Summary 

• The NCRB 2024 report recorded a decline in overall cognisable crimes, but this was partly due to legal changes under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, while crimes against children, senior citizens, and economic offences continued to rise. 
• Cybercrime emerged as the biggest concern, increasing by 17% due to AI-enabled frauds, digital arrest scams, weak digital literacy, and organised cyber syndicates, highlighting the urgent need for stronger cyber governance and digital security reforms. 

What are the Key Findings of the NCRB 2024 Report? 

• Total Cases: India recorded 58.85 lakh cognisable crimes in 2024, down from 62.41 lakh in 2023.
  • The reported 6% dip is largely attributed to the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 
  • Under the BNS, simple ‘Hurt’ was made a non-cognisable offence. Consequently, cases registered under the ‘Hurt’ category saw a massive 30.58% decline (dropping from 6.36 lakh to 4.41 lakh cases), which artificially deflated the overall national crime numbers. 
• Crime Rate: The Crime rate, which is a measure of cases registered per lakh population, saw a dip  from 448.3 in 2023 to 418.9 in 2024, the lowest since 2019. 
• Trends in Crimes:
  • Murder and Kidnapping: Murder cases witnessed a marginal decline of 2.4%, with ‘disputes’ remaining the leading motive. Kidnapping and abduction cases declined by a significant 15.4%. 
  • Property Offences: Traditional property offences like theft (down 9.8%) and robbery (down 13%) saw a noticeable decline, though burglary remained relatively stagnant. 
• Crimes Against Vulnerable Sections:
  • Children: Crime against children increased by 5.9% in 2024. Kidnapping and abduction accounted for the highest share, followed by POCSO-related offences, while the crime rate rose to 42.3 per lakh children population (39.9 in 2023). 
  • Women: Crimes against women declined by 1.5%, with 4.41 lakh cases reported in 2024 compared to 4.48 in 2023.
    • However, the crime rate remains high at 64.6 per lakh female population (66.2 in 2023), with ‘Cruelty by husband or his relatives‘ remaining the dominant offence. 
  • Marginalised Communities: Crimes against Scheduled Castes (SCs) decreased by 3.6%, while crimes against Scheduled Tribes (STs) showed a sharp decline of 23.1% over 2023. 
  • Senior Citizens:  Crimes against senior citizens rose by 16.9% in 2024. Theft accounted for the highest share, followed by forgery, cheating and fraud (FCF), and murder. 
  • Juveniles in Conflict with Law: Cases registered against Juveniles in Conflict with Law increased by 11.2%. 
• Human Trafficking and Missing Persons:  Human trafficking cases declined slightly in 2024, though over 6,000 victims, including many children, were reported trafficked, with authorities rescuing thousands and arresting offenders.
  • Meanwhile, missing person cases increased by 7.3%, while missing children cases rose by 7.8%, highlighting persistent concerns over trafficking, child safety, and vulnerable populations.  
• Economic Offences:  Increased by 4.6% in 2024, with forgery, cheating, and fraud (FCF) accounting for the majority of cases.
  • Meanwhile,the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 cases registered by the State Anti-Corruption Bureau remained largely stable, with most involving trap cases. 
• Environment Related Offences: Declined by 16.4% in 2024, with most cases registered under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, followed by Noise Pollution Acts. 
• State-Wise Variations: Telangana recorded a sharp rise in total cognisable crimes in 2024 and emerged among States with the highest crime rates (cases per lakh population) in the country.
  • Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest per capita crime rate (7.4), followed by Arunachal Pradesh and Jharkhand. 
  • Nagaland continued to record the lowest crime rate in the country. 
  • The State/UT reporting highest Charge-sheeting Rate under IPC and BNS Crimes are Kerala (94.5%), Puducherry (91.0%) and West Bengal (90.6%). 
  • Among metropolitan cities, Delhi ranked worst in violent crimes (murders, kidnappings) and fourth worst in economic offences.  Bengaluru has recorded the country’s highest suicide rate (20 per lakh population) among major metros. 

Cybercrime Epidemic 

• The most alarming takeaway from the 2024 report is the unabated rise of digital offences, which grew by 17% to cross 1.01 lakh reported cases.
  • The crime rate under this category increased from 6.2 in 2023 to 7.3 in 2024. 
• Rise of the ‘Digital Arrest’: A major new trend in 2024 was the exponential spike in ‘Digital Arrest’ frauds. Scamsters posing as law enforcement agencies (CBI, Customs, or Police) coerce victims over video calls, threatening them with immediate incarceration to extort their life savings. 
• Dominant Motives: Fraud remains the overwhelming motive for cybercrime (over 70%), driven by AI-enabled phishing, voice cloning, and sophisticated investment scams, followed by sexual exploitation and extortion. 
• State Hubs: States with high IT penetration, such as Telangana, recorded the highest cybercrime rate, with over 70 cases per lakh population, followed by Karnataka and Maharashtra.
  • These states continue to report the highest volumes of cybercrime, though authorities note significant under-reporting in rural and tier-3 areas. 

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 

• Establishment: NCRB was founded in 1986, based on the recommendations of the Tandon Committee  (1974), National Police Commission (1977-1981) and the MHA’s Task Force (1985).
  • It operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, with its headquarters located in New Delhi.  
• Core Mandate: To function as a national clearing house and repository of information on crime and criminals, assisting law enforcement agencies in linking crimes to their perpetrators. 
• Major Publications: The NCRB publishes highly authoritative annual reports that serve as the baseline for policy-making and judicial review in India. The three major ones are:
  • Crime in India (Comprehensive crime statistics) 
  • Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI) 
  • Prison Statistics India 
• Key Technological Initiatives:
  • CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems): A nationwide digital network connecting over 15,000 police stations for real-time sharing of FIRs and investigation data. 
  • NAFIS (National Automated Fingerprint Identification System): A centralized, searchable database assigning a unique 10-digit lifetime ID to arrested individuals based on their fingerprints. 
  • NDSO (National Database of Sexual Offenders): A central registry for tracking convicted sexual offenders across the country.

India to Host 1st International Big Cat Summit

Recently, India announced that it will host the 1st  International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit in New Delhi from 1st – 2nd June, 2026. 

• Delhi Declaration: The summit is expected to adopt the ‘Delhi Declaration’, the first global declaration on big cat conservation, aimed at promoting shared priorities, transboundary cooperation, and a landscape-based approach for protecting big cats and their habitats. 
• Theme: The summit will be guided by the theme — “Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem.” 

IBCA 

• Origins: IBCA  was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger, and was formally approved by the Union Cabinet in February 2024. 
• Implementation: IBCA was established through the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC).
  • It functions as a global platform to share conservation expertise, fund conservation initiatives, and create a repository of technical knowledge. 
• Objective: The initiative’s main objective is the conservation of seven major big cat species: the Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma. 
• Membership: The Republic of Nicaragua, Kingdom of Eswatini, Republic of India, Federal Republic of Somalia, and Republic of Liberia have ratified the IBCA framework agreement.
  • Membership is open to all United Nations member states, including range countries where these species naturally occur and non-range countries interested in supporting big cat conservation. 
• Need for IBCA: Big Cats are under threat due to habitat loss, poaching, climate change, and human-wildlife conflicts.
  • Conservation at a global scale is required to halt population decline and reverse negative trends. 
• Funding: India has committed Rs. 150 crore (2023-2028) in support to the IBCA and is exploring additional funding through bilateral, multilateral, and donor organizations.

2 New Semiconductor Units Approved in Gujarat Under ISM

The Union Cabinet approved two new semiconductor projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), including India’s first commercial GaN-based Mini/Micro-LED display facility and a semiconductor packaging unit, both to be established in Gujarat. 

• With the approval of these projects, the total number of semiconductor plants under the ISM has increased to 12, with facilities being established across Gujarat, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.  
• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 1.0: Launched in 2021 with Rs 76,000 crore outlay to build a full-stack chip ecosystem (fabrication, packaging, design, display manufacturing). 12 chip plants approved across Gujarat, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, UP, Odisha, and Punjab.  
• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0: ISM 2.0 (announced in Union Budget 2026-27) evolves from mere manufacturing subsidies to a USD 11 billion strategy targeting ecosystem localisation and indigenous design. It prioritises building a “full-stack” industry by supporting ancillary sectors like chemicals and capital goods. 
• Geopolitical and Economic Significance: Semiconductors are now categorized as a critical resource; localizing their production is essential for deepening domestic value addition in electronics and securing supply chains against global geopolitical tensions.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands Set Guinness World Records

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands recently hosted two unique underwater world records at Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island) to promote eco-tourism and establish the islands as a prime adventure destination. 

• The events included the “Largest Flag Unfurled Underwater” near Radha Nagar Beach, where a 60m x 40m Indian flag was unfurled, and the “Tallest Human Stack Underwater” near the lighthouse area, where divers formed a 10-meter-high stack, both aiming to set new world records.  

Andaman and Nicobar Islands 

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a Union Territory of India comprising 836 islands, islets, and rocks located in the Bay of Bengal, with Port Blair as its capital.
  • Swaraj Dweep, formerly known as Havelock Island, is part of the Ritchie’s Archipelago in the Andaman Islands. 
  • It was renamed in 2018 to honour India’s freedom struggle and national identity. 
• The Ten Degree Channel, located near the 10° north latitude, separates the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands. 
• Great Nicobar Island is the largest island in the Nicobar group, covering about 910 sq km, while Indira Point on this island marks the southernmost point of India. 
• The islands are home to five Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs): Great Andamanese, Jarwa, Onge, Shompen, and Sentinelese. 
• The region is known for its rich biodiversity, including tropical rainforests, mangroves, coral reefs, and endemic flora and fauna species, and is also important for tourism activities such as eco-tourism and scuba diving. 
• The islands hold major strategic significance due to their proximity to the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes, and host India’s only integrated tri-service command.

Prasoon Joshi Appointed Prasar Bharati Chairman

Recently, the Government of India appointed noted lyricist and writer Prasoon Joshi as Chairman of Prasar Bharati, marking a key leadership change in public broadcasting. 

• About: Prasar Bharati is a statutory autonomous public service broadcaster established under the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990, and became operational in 1997.
  • It functions under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.  
• Components: Prasar Bharati comprises Akashvani (All India Radio), one of the world’s largest radio networks, and Doordarshan, India’s national television broadcaster. 
• Functions: It functions as India’s national public broadcasting organisation with the mandate of providing information, education, and entertainment services. 
• Initiatives: Prasar Bharati has also launched Waves OTT platform for strengthening free-to-air OTT services in the spirit of public broad casting.

Tara Weapon

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted the maiden flight trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon system on 7 May 2026 off the coast of Odisha. The system was released from a Jaguar aircraft, and TARA is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system.

TARA Weapon System

TARA stands for Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation. It is a modular range extension kit that converts unguided warheads into precision-guided munitions. The system is designed to improve the range, accuracy, and lethality of low-cost weapons against ground-based targets.

Design and Development

DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad developed TARA with other DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners. Production activities for the system have already started with Development cum Production Partners (DcPP) and other Indian industries.

Trial Features and Validation

The flight trial validated the aerodynamic performance of the winged glide configuration. It also validated the weapon’s navigation, guidance, and control architecture. The trial used a Jaguar combat aircraft, which is a twin-engine, ground-attack aircraft used by the IAF.

Important Facts for Exams

• DRDO was established in 1958 and functions under the Ministry of Defence.
• The Indian Air Force was established on 8 October 1932.
• A glide weapon uses aerodynamic lift to extend its range after release from an aircraft.
• Stand-off weapons allow aircraft to engage targets from a distance outside the immediate threat zone.

Strategic Context

TARA provides a cheaper option than cruise missiles for some strike missions. It is intended for combat aircraft to engage high-value hostile ground targets from safer stand-off distances with precision.

Yildirimhan Missile

Turkiye has unveiled a prototype of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) named Yildirimhan Missile as part of a push to become self-reliant and to gain a foothold as a key defence player in the Middle East and among its NATO allies.

About Yildirimhan Missile
It is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by Turkey.
It has a range of 6,000 km.
If launched from Turkey, the Yildirimhan will be able to hit targets across Europe, Africa, and Asia. 
The missile can travel at up to Mach 25, an extreme hypersonic speed equivalent to 25 times the speed of sound, or nearly eight kilometres per second. 
It has four rocket propulsion engines and is fuelled by liquid nitrogen tetroxide. 
While liquid fuel introduces some “operational trade-offs” in terms of launch readiness, it enables greater optimisation of range and payload.
The missile is reported to be capable of carrying a warhead, or multiple warheads, with a total weight of up to three tonnes.  
It is expected to be launched from a mobile wheeled launcher.