Surge in Cybercrime: Women and Online Safety in Focus

In 2025, over 76,650 cybercrime incidents against women were reported in India, marking a significant rise from the previous year. The government outlined various initiatives to combat these crimes, including the establishment of cyber forensic labs and increased training for law enforcement personnel.

The Indian government has reported a disturbing increase in cybercrime targeting women, with 76,650 incidents documented in 2025, a considerable jump from prior years. The figures were shared with the Rajya Sabha, emphasizing the prevalent issues of online abuse, obscene content, and cyberstalking. These incidents, recorded on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), show a worrying trend over five years, with data detailing various forms of sexually abusive content and child sexual abuse material.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar highlighted the growing number of complaints related to sexually explicit content and cybercrimes on social media, such as fake profiles and identity theft. The statistics showed online and social media-related crimes increased significantly since 2021, underscoring the urgency for effective measures.

To tackle the rise in cyber crimes, particularly against women, the central government has initiated several measures, including financial support under the Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children scheme. They have also developed the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre to bolster coordinated responses across the nation and launched extensive training programs for law enforcement to enhance investigation and response tactics.

(With inputs from agencies.)