Amid a sharp rise in digital crime cases, a significant gap has emerged between the number of complaints filed and formal police action taken across the country.
The Union Government has highlighted that only about 1–3% of cybercrime complaints are being converted into FIRs, even as total complaints on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) have reached nearly 30 lakh annually, according to official data reviewed by a media platform.
This growing mismatch has raised concerns around enforcement, deterrence, and the overall justice delivery system.
Data shows that cybercrime complaints increased nearly 6 times between 2021 and 2025, recording a CAGR of around 58%. However, FIR registrations have not kept pace. In 2021, about 2.5% of complaints were converted into FIRs. This slightly improved to 2.9% in 2024, but dropped to 1.4% in 2025 (provisional), though it is expected to rise marginally.
As of December 31, 2025, the national average FIR conversion rate stood at around 2.22%. Officials noted that while pending verifications may increase the 2025 numbers slightly, the overall gap remains significant.
Calling the situation “serious,” the Centre has urged states to improve FIR conversion rates and strengthen response systems on the ground. One key recommendation is the implementation of the e-Zero FIR system, which would allow victims to file FIRs digitally without jurisdiction delays, especially in cyber fraud cases above Rs 10 lakh where quick action is critical.
The scale of the issue is also reflected in the load on the cybercrime helpline 1930. In 2025, the helpline received 3.24 crore calls, averaging 88,976 calls daily. This marks a sharp rise from 26,411 daily calls in 2023, showing more than a 3 times increase in just 2 years.
The data highlights the urgent need for stronger systems to handle the growing volume of cybercrime cases effectively.
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