A girl cries exterior a police station after her husband was arrested by police amid Assam authorities’s statewide crackdown on little one marriages | Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR
In Assam, recorded circumstances of crimes towards kids surged by almost 100% — from a median of round 5,100 circumstances between 2018 and 2022 to greater than 10,000 in 2023. In Kerala, the quantity elevated by 106% — from a median of greater than 2,800 circumstances between 2018 and 2022 to greater than 5,900 circumstances in 2023. In Rajasthan, the quantity elevated by 70% — from a median of 6,200 circumstances between 2018 and 2022 to greater than 10,500 circumstances in 2023.
In comparability, general recorded circumstances of crimes towards kids in India elevated by 25% in that interval. The under map reveals the proportion change in circumstances of crimes towards kids in 2023 in contrast with the typical variety of circumstances recorded between 2018 and 2022. While these three States stand out, the explanations for the rise in every of them range significantly.
In Assam, a report crackdown on little one marriage led to a pointy rise within the variety of circumstances filed below the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. In reality, a detailed have a look at Assam’s crime knowledge towards kids reveals that the spike was pushed nearly completely by this State-led intervention. Between 2020 and 2022, about 150 circumstances have been recorded yearly in Assam below the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act; this elevated to five,267 in 2023. That 12 months, circumstances associated to little one marriage accounted for almost 52% of all crimes towards kids within the State, a dramatic soar from 3-4% within the previous years, as proven within the chart under.
In Rajasthan, two key components seem to have pushed the rise. The first is the sudden shift in the way in which offences towards kids have been categorised — from solely non-POCSO sections to particular POCSO provisions. POCSO refers back to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. In 2021 and 2022, over 2,700 circumstances have been filed individually below the rape provision (Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code). However, in 2022 and 2023, no circumstances have been filed independently below this part; as an alternative, there was a corresponding rise in circumstances registered below the related POCSO provision. Cases filed below Sections 4 and 6 of the POCSO Act learn with Section 376 of the IPC elevated from simply three in 2021 and 2022 to greater than 3,500 in 2022 and 2023, as proven within the chart under. This shift — from submitting circumstances solely below IPC provisions to invoking related sections of the POCSO Act — was seen throughout the nation, however was most pronounced in Rajasthan.
It ought to be famous that the extra correct classification of kid rape circumstances occurred alongside an precise improve in such offences in Rajasthan — from about 2,700 to three,500 circumstances. However, whether or not this rise is primarily attributable to correct classification or an precise improve in offences is an open query.
The second is that there was a pointy spike in circumstances associated to the kidnapping and abduction of kids. In Rajasthan, circumstances filed below numerous sections associated to the kidnapping and abduction of kids rose sharply, with their share in complete crimes towards kids climbing to over 54% in 2023 — a steep improve., as proven within the chart under.
There was a surge in POCSO circumstances in Kerala too. The improve seems partly linked to extra correct classification of offences below particular POCSO sections, accompanied by a rise within the reported circumstances., as proven within the chart under.
It is essential to notice that the rise in circumstances, significantly these involving crimes towards kids, might point out improved reporting, relatively than a real improve within the incidence of such crimes.
The knowledge for the charts have been sourced from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) from 2020 to 2023
devyanshi.b@thehindu.co.in
Published – October 08, 2025 07:00 am IST
