The latest government data has revealed that an average of 87 rape cases was reported daily in 2019. The data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) showed an overall 4,05,861 cases of crime against women during the year, a rise of over 7% from 2018. Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 59,853 such incidents.
A total of 32,033 cases of rape were lodged in 2019, which was 7.3% of all crimes against women during the year, the report claimed. Assam reported the highest rate of crimes against women at 117.8 per lakh population.
In 2018, the country recorded 3,78,236 cases of crimes against women. Out of these, 33,356 were rape cases, up from 32,559 in 2017.
As per the available NCRB data, majority of these cases under Indian Penal Code (IPC) were registered under ‘cruelty by husband or his relatives’ (30.9%) followed by ‘assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty’ (21.8%), kidnapping and abduction of women (17.9%).
Uttar Pradesh also had the highest number of crimes against girl children under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act with 7,444 cases, followed by Maharashtra (6,402) and Madhya Pradesh (6,053).
The crime rate registered per lakh women population stood at 62.4 in 2019 in comparison with 58.8 in 2018. The NCRB, which functions under the Union Home Ministry, is tasked with collecting and analysing crime data as defined by the IPC and special and local laws in the country.