The United Nations has designated 25 November as the Day Against Gender-Based Violence. Since 2000, the day has been officially declared as International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women (VAW); a constant reminder of the violence, injustice and brutality caused against women across all societies, transcending all boundaries, cultures, and religions. Although the UN has made attempts to eliminate VAW, there has been little to no serious decline. According to the UN estimates, one in every three women/girls across the globe faces violence in some form. In 2014, the UN reported that globally, every ten minutes, one woman is being killed. The UN, as a part of its mission in the elimination of VAW, has marked this year (2025) with a sixteen-day activism campaign from 25 November to 10 December on “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”.
The Indian Story
While VAW has various dimensions and dynamics, the Indian National Crime Record Bureau has been the only authentic reference reporting instances of violence that have been officially registered with the law enforcement agencies. It is pertinent to know where India stands in terms of women’s safety, security, and well-being, nearly eight decades after independence.
The Indian case is arguably unique, as it is divided among many large provinces that record their separate data on VAW. Additionally, Police and crime reporting is a state subject, creating a complex reality in finding authentic data on the nature of crime and its intensity. While the digital abuse against women has taken a serious toll, an exploration of the state-wise data on cases of crimes against women in India is essential in understanding the pattern of crime rates against women. The majority of the crimes registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC, now replaced by Bharitya Nyay Sanhita) include several forms of violence, mostly acts of “Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives”, “Kidnapping & Abduction of Women”, “Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty”, and rape. The NCRB data indicates a considerable rise in the registered cases of Crimes against women.
What the data suggest is an alarming situation. The NCRB report on the registered cases of crimes against women indicates an overall upswing in the crime rates, with 3,29,243 in 2015, and increased to 4,45,256 in 2022.
Table 1: Overall pattern and Distribution among the major ranked States in cases of crimes against women, 2015-2022
| Year | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Total Crimes (IPC and SLL) | 329243 | 338954 | 359849 | 378236 | 405861 | 371503 | 428278 | 445256 |
| Consistently highest-ranked states in crime rates against women. | ||||||||
| Madhya Pradesh | 24231 | 26604 | 29788 | 28942 | 27560 | 25640 | 30673 | 32765 |
| Maharashtra | 31216 | 31388 | 31979 | 35497 | 37144 | 31954 | 39526 | 45331 |
| Rajasthan | 28224 | 27422 | 25993 | 27866 | 41550 | 34535 | 40738 | 45058 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 35908 | 49262 | 56011 | 59445 | 59853 | 49385 | 56083 | 65743 |
| West Bengal | 33318 | 32513 | 30992 | 30394 | 29859 | 36439 | 35884 | 34738 |
Sources: Source: Author’s compilation, National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), (2016-2023)
The state-wise distribution of the crimes against women between 2015 and 2022 can be understood in three categories: First States that consistently ranks in the top five states list with the most estimated records in crime against women; Second, states that do not fall under the consistent top five states list, however, shows a drastic multi-fold rise from 2015 to 2022 and states that have estimated a gradual rise in crime rates against women; Third, states that record comparatively lesser or does not record any drastic shift in cases of crimes against women.
In the first category, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal consistently rank in the top five list of states with the highest recorded cases of crimes against women. Uttar Pradesh tops the list with 35,908 registered cases in 2015, followed by 49,262 cases in 2016, 56,011 in 2017, 59,445 in 2018, 59,853 in 2019, 49,385 cases in 2020, 56,083 in 2021, and an increase to 65,743 cases in 2022.
Rajasthan reported 28,224 cases in 2015, 27,422 in 2016, and 45,058 cases in 2022. Maharashtra consistently ranks among the top five states with the highest recorded crimes, estimated at 31,216 in 2015, 34,597 in 2018, 39,526 in 2021, and increasing to 45,331 in 2022. Similarly, MP consistently ranked as one of the most recorded crimes against women states, estimated at 24231 cases in 2015 to 29788 in 2017, at 30673 in 2021 and 32765 in 2022. In 2015, West Bengal reported 33,318 registered cases, followed by 32,513 in 2016, 30,992 in 2017, 30,394 in 2018, 29,859 in 2019, 36,439 in 2020, 35,884 in 2021, and 34,738 in 2022. It is interesting to note that while UP, MP, Maharashtra and Rajasthan record a significant shift indicating massive rise in the number of cases from 2015 to 2022, on the other hand, West Bengal, while it constantly ranks in the top five state list of most recorded cases, however, in comparison to other four states West Bengal indicates a consistency without significant shift in the estimated records of crime against women. Ironically, the major states with high crime records on VAW, including UP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and MP, are BJP-ruled states. This indicates a lack of commitment to popular political slogans like ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ schemes.
Table 2: States with a significant rise in cases of crime against women, 2015-2022
| Year States | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Bihar | 13904 | 13400 | 14711 | 16920 | 18587 | 15359 | 17950 | 20222 |
| Haryana | 9511 | 9839 | 11370 | 14326 | 14683 | 13000 | 16658 | 16743 |
| Kerala | 9767 | 10034 | 11057 | 10461 | 11462 | 10139 | 13539 | 15213 |
| Orissa | 17200 | 17837 | 20098 | 20274 | 23183 | 25489 | 31352 | 23648 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 15967 | 16362 | 17909 | 16438 | 17746 | 17089 | 17752 | 25503 |
Source: Author’s compilation, National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), (2015-2023)
The second category includes those states that do not rank among the top major recorded states; however, it indicates a drastic change reflecting a rise in the recorded crimes against women. These states include Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Haryana and Kerala. Bihar recorded 13,904 in 2015 with an increase to 20222 in 2022. Haryana recorded 9511 cases in 2015 and increased to 16743 in 2022. Similarly, Kerala recorded 9767 cases in 2015, with an upswing to 15213 cases in 2022. Orissa estimated 17,200 registered cases in 2015, with an increase to 31,352 in 2021 and 23,648 in 2022. Andhra Pradesh recorded 15,967 cases in 2015, which increased to 25,503 in 2022.
Some states indicate a rise in recorded crimes, but a gradual one. This includes Tamil Nadu, which recorded 5,919 cases in 2015 and 9,207 cases in 2022. Telangana recorded 15425 cases in 2015 and 22066 cases in 2022. Karnataka recorded 12775 cases in 2015 and 17813 cases in 2022.
The third category refers to those states that comparatively have a lower estimation of crime rates. These include states like Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, Tripura, and Chandigarh.
Interestingly on an overall record of crimes against women, Assam and Delhi indicates a decline in the number of registered cases with Delhi recording 17,222 in 2015, with 15,310 cases in 2016, with 13,076 cases in 2017, with 13,640 cases in 2018, with 13,395 cases in 2019, with 10,093 cases in 2020, with 14,277 cases in 2021 and 14,247 cases in 2022. Similarly, Assam’s estimated cases stood at 23,365 in 2015, 20,869 in 2016, 23,082 in 2017, 27,687 in 2018, 30,025 in 2019, 26,352 in 2020, 29,046 in 2021, and 14,148 in 2022.
Structural and Cultural significance: the absence of a redressal mechanism
The data indicate a systematic increase in the use of violence (any form) against women. Despite the Government’s major initiatives, various factors facilitate violence against women. These factors are latent casualties that vary across geographical locations, society, culture and religions. Several socio-cultural norms, educational profile, marital status, the economic status play a crucial role in the rise of crimes and violence against women in India. More specifically, Indian society is majorly patriarchal, with minor exceptions, built on socially constructed norms and values with specific roles ascribed to males and females; the social attitude towards women, their objectification, only facilitates the process. The gender-based struggle to break through the socio-cultural discrimination, the inequality, the socially constructed normative roles, the abuse and violence continues to be a daily struggle.
The NCRB data indicates the widespread escalation in instances of crimes against women: the violence against women continues, and so does the struggle to fight back. The absence of a proper redressal mechanism poses a major challenge, resulting in several instances not being filed or recorded. And even if the women gather the courage to file a case, the social stigma following rape or abduction, or societal norms and expected normative behaviour following the institution of marriage, where women often being the victim continues to be a part of it, lacking any external support, or considering the future of the children at stake often continues to be a passive part of the process.
There needs to be a proper redressal mechanism implemented at the grassroots levels. An awareness among women on how to overcome these barriers, as well as proper channels and avenues to express their grievances, needs to be strengthened.
The Way Forward
The NCRB Reports provide only a glimpse of the instances registered with the police. Numerous instances of violence and abuse go unnoticed, unregistered, un unattended to, with women struggling to voice their story. It is high time to rise above these struggles for a safer society, where women can walk freely without fear. The Idea of India will be meaningless if women still struggle to breathe without fear.
