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EDITORIAL ANALYSIS: Online impersonation cases toughest to investigate

Online impersonation cases toughest to investigate

Source: The Hindu

For Prelims: Cybercrime, Cybersecurity

For Mains: General Studies III:: Internal Security, Social Security, Crime Data by National Crime Record Bureau

Highlights of the Article

National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB)

Cybercrimes

Cybersecurity

Context:

The recently released annual report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that the number of reported cyber crime cases in India shot up significantly in 2022. Telangana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra recorded the highest number of cases and Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa recorded the highest cyber crime rates (cyber crimes per lakh population).

UPSC EXAM NOTES ANALYSIS:

1. NCRB Crime Report 2022

Overall Crime Statistics:

The cumulative count of recorded cognizable crimes surpassed 5.8 million, encompassing both the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special & Local Laws (SLL) crimes. Case registrations saw a decrease of 4.5% compared to 2021. Crime Rate Decline: The rate of crime per 100,000 people dropped from 445.9 in 2021 to 422.2 in 2022. This decline is a more accurate gauge, accounting for population growth's influence on absolute crime numbers.

Safest City:

Kolkata retained its position as India's safest city for the third consecutive year, exhibiting the lowest number of cognizable offenses per 100,000 people among metropolises. Pune (Maharashtra) and Hyderabad (Telangana) secured second and third positions, respectively. Rise in

Cyber Crimes:

Reported cybercrimes surged by 24.4%, totaling 65,893 cases, a significant rise from 52,974 cases in 2021. Cyber fraud comprised the majority (64.8%) of reported cases, followed by extortion (5.5%) and sexual exploitation (5.2%). The crime rate in this category increased from 3.9 in 2021 to 4.8 in 2022.

Suicides and Causes:

India witnessed over 170,000 cases of suicides in 2022, marking a troubling increase of 4.2% from 2021. The suicide rate, calculated per 100,000 population, rose by 3.3%.
Key causes included 'Family Problems,' 'Marriage Related Problems,' financial issues like bankruptcy, 'Unemployment and professional problems,' and health concerns.
Maharashtra reported the highest number of suicides, followed closely by Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Telangana. Daily wage earners accounted for 26.4% of total suicides, while agricultural workers and farmers were significantly affected. Additionally, unemployed individuals represented 9.2% of all reported suicides, and over 12,000 cases involved students.

Escalating Crimes Against SCs and STs:

The report highlighted a general increase in crimes and atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) individuals. States such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana witnessed a surge in such cases in 2022.
Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan consistently ranked among the top five states with the highest occurrences of crimes against these communities. Other states witnessing elevated levels of such offenses include Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Punjab.

Crimes Against Women:

A total of 445,256 cases of crimes against women were reported in 2022, marking a 4% increase from 2021. Primary categories included 'Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives,' 'Kidnapping & Abduction of Women,' and 'Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage Her Modesty.'

Crimes Against Children:

Cases of crimes against children increased by 8.7% compared to 2021, with a majority relating to kidnapping and abduction (45.7%) and 39.7% filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

Crime against Senior Citizens:

Cases of crimes against senior citizens rose by 9.3% to 28,545 cases compared to 26,110 cases in 2021. The majority (27.3%) involved hurt followed by theft (13.8%) and forgery, cheating, and fraud (11.2%).

Animal Attacks on the Rise:

There was a 19% increase in incidents of deaths or injuries due to animal attacks in 2022 compared to 2021. Maharashtra reported the highest number of cases, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. Additionally, the number of animal/reptile and insect bites cases increased by 16.7%. Rajasthan reported the highest number of bite cases, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.

Environment-Related Crime:

The total number of environmental crimes decreased by approximately 18% in 2022 compared to 2021. Violations under several acts, including those related to air and water pollution, increased significantly.

Offences Against the State:

Offences against the State showed a slight increase in 2022, with a notable rise in cases registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and a decline in sedition cases.

Rise in Economic Offences:

Economic offences, categorized into criminal breach of trust, forgery, cheating, fraud (FCF), and counterfeiting, saw FCF accounting for the majority of cases. Confiscation of fake Indian currency notes totaled over Rs. 342 crore in 2022.

Crimes Against Foreigners:

Cases registered against foreigners increased by 28%, with the majority of victims from Asian and African countries.

High Chargesheeting Rates:

States with the highest chargesheeting rates under IPC crimes included Kerala, Puducherry, and West Bengal, indicating the progress in legal proceedings against accused individuals

2.Cybercrime and Cyber Security

Cybercrime refers to criminal activities conducted through digital means, targeting computer systems, networks, or devices. These crimes encompass a wide range of illegal activities, including hacking, identity theft, phishing, malware distribution, online fraud, cyberbullying, and various forms of digital harassment. Cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in technology and use sophisticated methods to gain unauthorized access, steal data, disrupt systems, or cause harm.

Cybersecurity, on the other hand, involves the practices, technologies, and measures implemented to protect systems, networks, and data from cyber threats. It encompasses a range of strategies including:

Access Control: Limiting access to authorized users and ensuring strong authentication methods.
Firewalls and Antivirus Software: Deploying software to protect against malware, viruses, and other malicious software.
Encryption: Encoding data to prevent unauthorized access, especially during transmission.
Regular Updates and Patches: Keeping systems updated with the latest security patches to address vulnerabilities.
Employee Training: Educating users about best practices to prevent phishing attacks, social engineering, and other cyber threats.
Incident Response Plans: Having procedures in place to respond effectively to cyber incidents, including data breaches.

3.National Crime Record Bureau

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is a government agency in India responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data as well as maintaining national databases related to crime and criminals. It operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The NCRB compiles and publishes annual reports that provide comprehensive statistics on various aspects of crime in India, including details on crimes against women, children, senior citizens, as well as data on cybercrime, economic offenses, crimes against scheduled castes and tribes, and more.

The bureau plays a crucial role in assisting law enforcement agencies and policymakers by offering insights into crime trends, patterns, and statistics. This information aids in formulating policies, strategies, and interventions to address different forms of criminal activities and improve public safety across the country

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is an Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data as defined by the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL). It was established in 1986 and is headquartered in New Delhi, India.

Functions of NCRB:

Collects crime data from all police stations across India. This data includes information about the type of crime, the victim, the offender, and the investigation.
NCRB analyzes the crime data it collects to identify trends and patterns. This analysis helps to inform law enforcement and policymakers.
NCRB publishes a number of reports on crime in India, including the annual Crime in India report. These reports provide valuable insights into the nature and extent of crime in India.
NCRB also develops and implements crime prevention programs. These programs are designed to reduce crime and make communities safer

4.Conclusion

As technology evolves, cyber threats also continue to advance in sophistication. Thus, ensuring robust cybersecurity measures and staying updated with the latest security practices is crucial for individuals, businesses, and governments to safeguard against cyber threats. Collaboration between various stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, cybersecurity experts, and the public, is essential to combat cybercrime effectively.

Rise in crime’ and ‘increase in registration of crime by police’ are clearly two different things, a fact which requires better understanding. Thus an oft-repeated expectation from certain quarters that an effective police administration will be able to keep the crime figures low is misplaced

Practice Mains Questions

1.Discuss the significance of cybersecurity in the modern digital age. Highlight the major challenges and strategies needed to enhance cybersecurity measures in India.

2.Analyze the role of government policies and international cooperation in tackling cyber threats. How can India strengthen its cybersecurity framework through collaboration with other nations?

3.Examine the role of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in compiling and analyzing crime data in India. Evaluate the importance of accurate crime statistics for policy formulation and law enforcement

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