Cybercrime against women rises sharply in India, cases jump by over 28,000 in one year

Cybercrime against women in India has seen a sharp increase, with over 76,650 cases reported in 2025 alone. This marks a rise of more than 28,000 incidents compared to 2024, according to data shared in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar.

The data highlights growing concerns about online safety for women, especially with the increasing use of social media and digital platforms. The complaints were registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, which allows citizens to report online offences easily.

The figures show that cybercrime cases against women have been rising over the years. In 2021, there were 52,048 complaints, which increased to 62,224 in 2022. The number dropped to 40,066 in 2023 but rose again to 48,335 in 2024. In 2025, the number jumped significantly to 76,657 cases, showing a worrying trend.

Types of cyber crimes reported

The data reveals that the most common type of cybercrime reported by women in 2025 was related to sexually obscene material. A total of 37,743 complaints were filed under this category. This was followed by 19,703 cases involving sexually explicit acts.

Another serious category included rape or gang rape-related abusive content, with 8,780 complaints reported. Additionally, 10,431 cases were related to child sexual abuse material being shared online.

Apart from these, there has also been a steady rise in crimes linked to social media and online platforms. These include cyberstalking, fake profiles, identity theft, and online harassment.

The total number of complaints under the “online and social media related crime” category has also increased over the years. In 2021, there were 72,301 such cases, which rose to 1,31,634 in 2022. The number continued to grow to 1,41,264 in 2023, 1,57,054 in 2024, and reached 1,73,766 in 2025.

Among these, cyberbullying, stalking, and sexting accounted for 45,832 cases in 2025. Fake or impersonating profiles were reported in 46,784 cases, while 34,533 complaints involved profile hacking or identity theft. Cheating by impersonation also remained a major issue, with 23,252 reported cases.

Other types of cybercrimes reported during the year include 11,126 cases of online job fraud, 7,595 cases involving provocative speech for unlawful acts, and 2,240 cases of email phishing. There were also cases of impersonating emails, intimidating emails, and online matrimonial fraud, showing the wide range of digital threats people face today.

Steps taken by the Government

In his reply, Bandi Sanjay Kumar explained that maintaining law and order is mainly the responsibility of state governments and Union Territories. This is because police and public order fall under the State List as per the Constitution of India.

However, the central government supports states by providing financial help, guidelines, and training to deal with cybercrime more effectively. One of the key initiatives is the Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children scheme, under which financial assistance of ₹132.93 crore has been provided.

To improve coordination and response, the government has also set up the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre. This centre works to bring together different agencies and ensure a unified approach to tackling cybercrime.

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The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal has been launched to make it easier for citizens to report cyber offences. The portal focuses especially on crimes against women and children, allowing quick action by authorities.

In addition, cyber forensic-cum-training laboratories have been established in 33 states and Union Territories. These labs help in investigating digital crimes and collecting evidence more effectively.

The government has also trained more than 24,600 law enforcement personnel, public prosecutors, and judicial officers in cybercrime awareness, investigation, and forensics. This training aims to improve the overall capacity of the system to handle complex cyber cases.

Other important steps include the creation of the National Cyber Forensic Laboratory and the launch of the CyTrain online training platform. These initiatives are designed to strengthen the country’s ability to deal with cyber threats.

Awareness campaigns have also been conducted across the country to educate people about online safety. These campaigns encourage users to be cautious while sharing personal information and to report suspicious activities immediately.

The rising number of cybercrime cases against women highlights the urgent need for stronger safety measures and public awareness. As more people depend on digital platforms for daily activities, ensuring a safe online environment has become more important than ever.

In conclusion, while the government has taken several steps to address the issue, the sharp rise in cases shows that more efforts are needed. Both authorities and citizens must work together to prevent cybercrime and protect vulnerable groups, especially women, in the digital space.