29 August 2025 — India’s official crime statistics paint a worrying and sometimes contradictory picture of sexual violence. Reported rape cases remain consistently high every year. But even these stark statistics underestimate the true scale of the problem. Activists and researchers have long argued that the reality on the ground is far worse than the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data.
Data from 2019 to 2024 show no substantial improvement in the situation. Full reports for 2024 and 2025 are still pending, but parliamentary replies and state-level disclosures show that the picture remains as grim as ever. In 2019, 32,033 cases were registered across the country, the highest in recent years. In 2020, the number fell to 28,046, which many observers attribute not to any real decrease but to reporting difficulties due to COVID lockdowns. In 2021, the figure rose again to 31,677—an average of 86 women were filing rape complaints every day. Preliminary data show that the situation did not improve much after that. In 2024, a chief minister admitted in a written reply that rape cases in his state alone had increased by 8 per cent compared to the previous year. If this trend applies to the entire country, it does not point to improvement but stagnation—or worse.
The most disturbing aspect of these statistics is the number of cases that never get reported. Under-reporting is common. Victims often face immense pressure from society, sometimes from their own families, to remain silent. They also fear retribution—not just from the perpetrators but also from communities that prefer to “hush” the cases. Apart from this, distrust in the police and the courts is also a big reason why the NCRB data shows only the surface picture, not the real reality. The NCRB itself admits that in nearly 90 per cent of registered cases, the accused is someone known to the victim—whether a neighbour, friend, relative or authority figure. This statistic challenges the misconception that the biggest threat of sexual violence is from strangers. In fact, most sexual violence in India comes from within the victim’s social circle.
Even if cases are registered, the road ahead is extremely difficult. Conviction rates are dismal and most cases remain entangled in court processes for years. NCRB data repeatedly shows that most cases are either awaiting trial or are stuck in courts, weakening victims’ trust in the system. Critics say this slow process not only deprives them of justice but also weakens their fear of the law.
Yes, there have been attempts at reform—the Criminal Law (Amendment) Acts of 2013 and 2018 promised stringent provisions and “fast-track” courts. On paper, these changes seemed significant. But the reality on the ground is less encouraging. Without strong enforcement, legal changes often grab headlines but do not provide solutions.
Ultimately, all this suggests that India’s battle against sexual violence cannot be won by laws alone. Laws may set the stage, but the real difference comes from society’s response—whether it’s families, schools, workplaces or police stations. Until victims feel safe coming forward and until the system responds swiftly and fairly, official statistics will hide as much as they reveal.
Report Source – wikipedia
