NCRB report | The big shift in crime

The latest NCRB report shows a drop in cognisable crimes, but points to a sharp shift in the nature of offences

(Text by Amitabh Srivastava | Graphics by Tanmoy Chakraborty)

Amitabh Srivastava

Tanmoy Chakraborty

UPDATED: May 15, 2026 19:22 IST

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Overall cognisable crimes in India, registered under the Indian Penal Code/Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Special and Local Laws, fell 6 per cent in 2024 from the previous year, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau data. However, the report points to a sharp shift in the nature of offences: while cybercrime, juvenile crime and cases of missing children rose, murder, rape, cruelty by husbands or relatives and dowry deaths showed a decline.