NCRB 2024 data shows a small fall in crimes against women but rising offences against children, with domestic cruelty and kidnapping prominent. The report emphasises persistent risks and calls for strengthened protections and policing.
India
-Swastika Sruti
Fresh NCRB figures for 2024 underline continuing risks for women and children, with homes remaining unsafe spaces. Overall crime against women dipped slightly, yet domestic cruelty still dominates. At the same time, offences recorded against children climbed, signalling persistent concerns for child safety.
NCRB’s 2024 data shows crimes against women fell 1.5% to 4.41 lakh cases, with domestic cruelty dominating, while offenses against children rose 5.9% to 1.87 lakh cases, indicating heightened safety issues.
Data for crime against children shows over 1.87 lakh registered cases in 2024, compared with over 1.77 lakh in 2023. This marks a 5.9% rise in one year. The crime rate among children moved from 39.9 per lakh in 2023 to 42.3 in 2024.
Crime against women and children NCRB data 2024 highlights
Crimes targeting women totalled over 4.41 lakh cases in 2024, down 1.5% from over 4.48 lakh in 2023. Despite this marginal fall, offences remain widespread. The recorded crime rate per lakh women dropped from 66.2 in 2023 to 64.6 in 2024.
Within crimes against women, “cruelty by husband and relatives” again formed the top category. This heading alone accounted for more than 1.20 lakh cases, or 27% of the total. These incidents highlight continuing abuse within families, even as overall numbers show a small decline.
| Category | 2024 Cases | Share of Category |
|---|---|---|
| “Kidnapping and abduction of women” | 67,829 | 15% |
| “Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act cases” (women) | 67,809 | 15% |
| “Assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty” | 48,303 | 10.9% |
| “Kidnapping and abduction” (children) | 75,108 | 40% |
| “Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act cases” (children) | 69,191 | 37% |
Category-wise crime against women and children NCRB data 2024
“Kidnapping and abduction of women” formed the second largest group, with 67,829 cases, or 15%. Next came “Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act cases” involving women, with 67,809 cases, again 15%. “Assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty” contributed 48,303 cases, or 10.9%.
For children, major crime heads showed a different pattern. Under ‘crime against children’ in 2024, “kidnapping and abduction” counted 75,108 cases, forming 40% of incidents. “Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act cases” added 69,191 cases, or 37%, pointing to serious sexual and abduction risks.
Taken together, the NCRB data for 2024 presents mixed trends. Overall crimes against women have eased slightly, yet domestic cruelty and abduction remain widespread. For children, the rising case numbers and higher crime rate underline growing vulnerability, demanding close attention from authorities and communities.
