India recorded an average of 87 rape cases daily in 2019 and overall 4,05,861 cases of crime against women during the year, a rise of 7.3 per cent per cent from 2018, the data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) showed. The statistics reveal that a woman is raped in the country every 16 minutes. 

Murder cases in the country marginally declined and deaths by suicides increased by over 3 per cent during 2019 as compared to 2018, showed the NCRB data. 

What is the NCRB?

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), under the Union ministry of home affairs, is tasked with collecting and analysing crime data as defined by the Indian Penal Code and special and local laws in the country.

The NCRB was set up in 1986 to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist investigators in linking crime to perpetrators based on the recommendations of the Tandon Committee to the National Police Commission (1977-81) and the home ministry’s task force (1985).

Subsequently, the NCRB was entrusted with the responsibility for monitoring, coordinating and implementing the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) project in 2009. The project connects more than 15,000 police stations and 6,000 higher offices of police in the country.

The NCRB launched the National Digital Police Portal on August 21, 2017. It allows search for a criminal/suspect on the CCTNS database apart from providing various services to citizens like filing of complaints online and seeking antecedent verification of tenants, domestic helps, drivers, etc.

The NCRB also compiles and publishes National Crime Statistics — crime in India, accidental deaths & suicides and also prison statistics. These publications serve as principal reference points by policymakers, police, criminologists, researchers and the media.

Rise in crimes against women

Overall, 4,05,861 cases of crime against women were reported in 2019 in the country. India had recorded 3,78,236 cases of crime against women in 2018.

Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 59,853 cases of crime against women, followed by Rajasthan (41,550) and Maharashtra (37,144).

A total of 32,033 cases of rape were lodged in 2019, which was 7.3 per cent of all crimes against women during the year.

Rajasthan reported the highest number of rapes with 5,997 cases, followed by Uttar Pradesh (3,065) and Madhya Pradesh (2,485). In terms of rate of rape cases, Rajasthan was the highest at 15.9 (per lakh population), followed by Kerala (11.1) and Haryana (10.9).

In 2018, 33,356 rapes were recorded across the country, up from 32,559 in 2017, according to the data from corresponding years.

Majority of these cases under Indian Penal Code were registered under ‘cruelty by husband or his relatives’ (30.9 per cent) followed by ‘assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty’ (21.8 per cent), ‘kidnapping and abduction of women’ (17.9 per cent).

The crime rate registered per lakh women population stood at 62.4 in 2019 in comparison with 58.8 in 2018.

Marginal decline in murder cases

India recorded an average of 79 murder cases daily in 2019. A total of 28,918 cases of murder were registered in 2019, showing a marginal decline of 0.3 per cent over 2018 (29,017 cases), the data compiled by the NCRB showed.

‘Dispute’ (9,516 cases) was the motive in highest number of murder cases followed by ‘personal vendetta or enmity’ (3,833 cases) and ‘gain’ (2,573 cases).

The country also recorded a decline of 0.7 per cent in cases of kidnapping and abduction in 2019. A total of 1,05,037 such cases with 1,08,025 victims were registered in 2019, down from 1,05,734 cases in 2018.

During 2019, a total of 96,295 kidnapped or abducted persons (22,794 male and 73,501 female) were found, out of which 95,551 were rescued alive.

In 2019, 2,260 cases of human trafficking were also registered as compared to 2,278 cases in 2018, showing a decrease of 0.8 per cent. A total of 6,616 victims were reported to be trafficked including 2,914 children and 3,702 adults. 

Apart from this, 6,571 victims were rescued from clutches of traffickers. A total of 5,128 persons were arrested in 2,260 cases of trafficking.

381 suicides a day in the country

India reported an average 381 deaths by suicide daily in 2019, totalling 1,39,123 fatalities over the year. A 3.4 per cent increase was observed in suicides during 2019 as compared to 2018 (1,34,516) and 2017 (1,29,887), the NCRB data showed.

The suicide rate in cities (13.9 per cent) was higher as compared to all-India suicide rate (10.4 per cent) in 2019.

Family problems (other than marriage-related issues) were behind 32.4 per cent of suicides, marriage-related problems (5.5 per cent) and illness (17.1 per cent) together accounted for 55 per cent of the total suicides in the country during 2019. 

Majority of suicides were reported in Maharashtra (18,916), followed by 13,493 in Tamil Nadu, 12,665 in West Bengal, 12,457 in Madhya Pradesh and 11,288 in Karnataka. 

Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state, reported a comparatively lower percentage share of suicidal deaths, accounting for only 3.9 per cent of the total suicides in the country. 

As many as 32,563 daily wage earners ended their lives during the year and formed 23.4 per cent of the total suicide cases in the country, up from 30,132 in 2018. 

As many as 10,281 people involved in farming sector (consisting of 5,957 farmers or cultivators and 4,324 agricultural labourers) killed themselves in 2019, accounting for 7.4 per cent of total suicide victims (1,39,123) in the country. 

Majority of victims engaged in farming sector were reported in Maharashtra (38.2 per cent), Karnataka (19.4 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (10 per cent). 

West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Chandigarh, Daman & Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep and Puducherry reported “zero suicides” of farmers or cultivators as well as agricultural labourers.

1.54 lakh people killed in road crashes 

A total of 4,37,396 road accidents were recorded across India in 2019, resulting in the death of 1,54,732 people and injuries to another 4,39,262, according to the NCRB data.

Also, the majority (59.6 per cent) of road accidents were due to ‘over-speeding’ which caused 86,241 deaths and left 2,71,581 people injured, the data stated.

In 2018, Indian had reported 1,52,780 deaths in road crashes, while the figures stood at 1,50,093 in 2017.

Uttar Pradesh recorded 27,661 deaths, followed by Maharashtra (18,524 deaths) and Madhya Pradesh (13,497 deaths) in traffic accidents in the country. Uttar Pradesh accounted for 15.3 per cent of total deaths in traffic accidents. 

According to the statistics, 38 per cent victims of road accidents were riders of two-wheelers followed by trucks or lorries, cars and buses.

The data showed that 59.5 per cent of road accidents were reported in rural areas (2,60,379 cases) and 40.5 per cent in urban areas (1,77,017 cases).

24,619 persons killed in railway accidents

A total of 27,987 cases of railway accidents were reported during 2019, in which 24,619 persons were killed and 3,569 injured.

Maximum railway accidents were reported in Maharashtra accounting for 22.6 per cent of the total cases, followed by Uttar Pradesh (14.2 per cent). These two states have also reported the highest fatalities in railway accidents. 

Majority (76.3 per cent) of railway accident cases were reported under ‘fall from trains or collision with people on track’ (21,361 out of 27,987).

A total of 1,788 cases of railway crossing accidents were also reported in 2019 which caused 1,762 deaths and left 165 persons injured.

Maximum railway crossing accidents were reported in Uttar Pradesh accounting for 47.6 per cent of the total cases, followed by Bihar (13.5 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh (12.9 per cent). Uttar Pradesh tops in highest fatalities in railway crossing accidents, accounting for 48.5 per cent of deaths in railway crossing accidents. 

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