January 22, 2026

NCRB Reports Guide Access Crime Statistics, Suicide Data & Prison Records (1953-2025)

NCRB Reports Guide: Access Crime Statistics, Suicide Data & Prison Records (1953-2025) description: "The ultimate 24x7 guide to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Learn how to download the 'Crime in India' report, analyze 'Accidental Deaths & Suicides' (ADSI) data, and search for missing persons or stolen vehicles on the central database." date: 2026-01-13 author: Resources Desk | Sansad Online tags: [NCRB, Crime in India, ADSI, Prison Statistics, Crime Rate, Farmer Suicides, Cyber Crime, CCTNS]

🚓 24x7 Resource: NCRB Reports (Crime Statistics)

The Safety Hub

Access the official ledger of law and order in India.

  • Official Portal: ncrb.gov.in
  • Key Reports: Crime in India (CII), ADSI (Accidental Deaths & Suicides).
  • Search Tool: CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems).
  • Motto: "Empowering Indian Police with Information Technology."
📊 DATA WARNING: A rise in "Crime Numbers" does not always mean a rise in crime. Often, it means an increase in reporting (e.g., more women coming forward to file FIRs). The NCRB report always carries this disclaimer: "The data reflects the police records, not necessarily the ground reality."

Introduction: The Mirror of Society

(Why These Numbers Matter)

Is Delhi really the "Crime Capital"? Is Kerala actually safer than UP? Are cybercrimes rising faster than street crimes?

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) answers these questions. Established in 1986, it collects data from every Police Station in India (via the State Crime Records Bureaux) and compiles it into massive annual reports.

For a sociologist, a policy-maker, or a concerned citizen, these reports are the primary source of truth.

  • The "Crime in India" Report: Tells you how many murders, rapes, and thefts happened.
  • The "ADSI" Report: Tells you how many people died in road accidents or by suicide (including the sensitive "Farmer Suicide" data).
  • The "Prison Statistics" Report: Tells you how many undertrials are languishing in jail versus convicts.

This "24x7 Resource Page" guides you through the ncrb.gov.in archive. It teaches you to look beyond the headlines and understand the "Crime Rate" (crimes per lakh population), which is the only scientific way to compare states.

🔍 The "Big Three" Reports

The NCRB publishes three flagship documents every year. You can download them for free.

1. Crime in India (CII)

  • The Bible of Police Data.
  • Volume 1: IPC Crimes (Murder, Kidnapping, Assault).
  • Volume 2: SLL Crimes (Special & Local Laws - like Excise Act, Gambling Act, UAPA).
  • Volume 3: Crimes against Women, Children, and SC/STs.
  • Key Metric: Look for "Crime Rate" (Column 4 in most tables).
    • Example: State A has 1000 murders. State B has 500 murders. But if State A has 10x population, its Crime Rate might be lower than State B. Always compare Rates.

2. Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI)

  • The Sociological Report.
  • Traffic Accidents: It breaks down road deaths by "Time of Day" (e.g., 6 PM - 9 PM is deadliest) and "Vehicle Type" (Two-wheelers vs Trucks).
  • Suicides: It categorizes suicides by "Cause" (Family Problems, Bankruptcy, Illness) and "Profession" (Daily Wage Earner, Student, Farmer).
  • Why it matters: This report often drives policy changes, like stricter helmet laws or mental health helplines.

3. Prison Statistics India (PSI)

  • The Human Rights Report.
  • It reveals the Occupancy Rate (Overcrowding). Fact: Indian prisons often run at 130% capacity.
  • It reveals the ratio of Undertrials (people waiting for court verdict) vs Convicts. Fact: ~75% of Indian prisoners are undertrials.

🕵️ How to Search for Missing Persons/Vehicles

The NCRB isn't just PDF reports. It runs the CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems), which connects police stations digitally.

1. "Vahan Samanvay" (Stolen Vehicles)

  • Portal: ncrb.gov.in -> Citizen Services.
  • Use Case: If you are buying a second-hand car/bike, enter the Registration Number or Chassis Number here.
  • Result: The database checks millions of FIRs to tell you if the vehicle is reported "Stolen."

2. "Talash" (Missing Persons)

  • Portal: trackthemissingchild.gov.in (Linked to NCRB).
  • Use Case: You can search the database of "Found Persons" (bodies or people found by police) across India to match with a missing relative.

🏛️ How to Navigate the Website

The NCRB website is text-heavy. Here is the shortcut.

Step 1: Access the Publications

  • Go to: ncrb.gov.in.
  • Click: "Publications" tab.
  • Select: "Crime in India" or "ADSI".

Step 2: The "Snapshots"

  • If you don't want to read a 500-page PDF, download the "Snapshots" or "At a Glance" PDF.
  • It gives you colorful charts and the "Top 5 States" in every category.
  • Need data from 1995? The "Archive" section holds scanned reports going back to 1953.
  • Research Tip: Comparing 1990 data with 2020 data shows the massive shift from "Dacoity/Robbery" (which dropped) to "Cyber Crime/Cheating" (which skyrocketed).

📈 Decoding the Jargon: IPC vs. SLL

  • IPC (Indian Penal Code): Traditional crimes like Murder (302), Theft (379), Rape (376). These are standard across India.
  • SLL (Special & Local Laws): Specific laws like the Liquor Prohibition Act (Bihar/Gujarat) or Arms Act.
  • The Trap: A state might have a huge "Total Crime" number just because it arrests thousands for drinking alcohol (SLL), even if its murder rate is low. Always check "IPC Crime Rate" for a better safety comparison.

📱 The "CryMac" (Cyber Crime) Portal

NCRB also manages the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

  • Link: cybercrime.gov.in.
  • Feature: You can report Financial Fraud or Cyber Bullying anonymously.
  • 1930 Helpline: The "Golden Hour" helpline. If you lose money to a scammer, call 1930 immediately. NCRB connects with banks to freeze the money before it moves out.

Your safety toolkit:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Why is there a delay in reports?

The NCRB report is usually published with a 1-year lag (e.g., 2024 data is published in late 2025).

  • Reason: NCRB has to wait for data from 36 States/UTs. Even if one state delays sending its excel sheets, the national report is held up. Verification and error-checking take months.

Q2. Is the "Farmer Suicide" data accurate?

This is controversial.

  • The Definition: The data depends on the local police/revenue officer classifying a death as "Farmer Suicide" vs "Personal Suicide."
  • The Trend: Some states report "Zero" farmer suicides, which experts argue is due to strict classification rules (e.g., excluding tenant farmers who don't own land titles).

Q3. Does NCRB collect data on "Mob Lynching"?

Not specifically.

  • Despite plans to collect it, "Mob Lynching" is not yet a separate category in the published main tables. It is usually recorded under "Murder" or "Rioting."

Q4. Can I get FIR copies from NCRB?

No. NCRB stores statistics. To get a copy of a specific FIR, you must visit the State Police Website (e.g., uppolice.gov.in or keralapolice.gov.in) and use their "View FIR" service.

Q5. What is the "Safest City" in India?

According to recent NCRB reports, Kolkata has frequently topped the list for the lowest "Cognizable Crime Rate" among mega-cities. However, critics argue this is partly due to lower registration of cases.

Bookmark this page. Safety begins with knowing the risks.