A woman cries outside a police station after her husband was arrested by police amid Assam government’s statewide crackdown on child marriages
| Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR
In 2023, cases of crimes against children recorded the sharpest rise in three States — Assam, Rajasthan and Kerala, according to the latest data from the National Crimes Records Bureau.
In Assam, recorded cases of crimes against children surged by nearly 100% — from an average of around 5,100 cases between 2018 and 2022 to more than 10,000 in 2023. In Kerala, the number increased by 106% — from an average of more than 2,800 cases between 2018 and 2022 to more than 5,900 cases in 2023. In Rajasthan, the number increased by 70% — from an average of 6,200 cases between 2018 and 2022 to more than 10,500 cases in 2023.
In comparison, overall recorded cases of crimes against children in India increased by 25% in that period. The below map shows the percentage change in cases of crimes against children in 2023 compared with the average number of cases recorded between 2018 and 2022. While these three States stand out, the reasons for the rise in each of them vary considerably.
In Assam, a record crackdown on child marriage led to a sharp rise in the number of cases filed under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. In fact, a close look at Assam’s crime data against children shows that the spike was driven almost entirely by this State-led intervention. Between 2020 and 2022, about 150 cases were recorded annually in Assam under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act; this increased to 5,267 in 2023. That year, cases related to child marriage accounted for nearly 52% of all crimes against children in the State, a dramatic jump from 3-4% in the preceding years, as shown in the chart below.
In Rajasthan, two key factors appear to have driven the rise. The first is the sudden shift in the way offences against children were categorised — from only non-POCSO sections to specific POCSO provisions. POCSO refers to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. In 2021 and 2022, over 2,700 cases were filed separately under the rape provision (Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code). However, in 2022 and 2023, no cases were filed independently under this section; instead, there was a corresponding rise in cases registered under the relevant POCSO provision. Cases filed under Sections 4 and 6 of the POCSO Act read with Section 376 of the IPC increased from just three in 2021 and 2022 to more than 3,500 in 2022 and 2023, as shown in the chart below. This shift — from filing cases solely under IPC provisions to invoking relevant sections of the POCSO Act — was seen across the country, but was most pronounced in Rajasthan.
It should be noted that the more accurate classification of child rape cases occurred alongside an actual increase in such offences in Rajasthan — from about 2,700 to 3,500 cases. However, whether this rise is primarily due to proper classification or an actual increase in offences is an open question.
The second is that there was a sharp spike in cases related to the kidnapping and abduction of children. In Rajasthan, cases filed under various sections related to the kidnapping and abduction of children rose sharply, with their share in total crimes against children climbing to over 54% in 2023 — a steep increase., as shown in the chart below.
There was a surge in POCSO cases in Kerala too. The increase appears partly linked to more accurate classification of offences under specific POCSO sections, accompanied by an increase in the reported cases., as shown in the chart below.
It is important to note that the rise in cases, particularly those involving crimes against children, may indicate improved reporting, rather than a genuine increase in the incidence of such crimes.
The data for the charts were 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
