**Executive Summary:**
In response to concerns about low awareness of cybercrime reporting mechanisms among Indian internet users, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology outlines the government's efforts to promote a safe and accountable cyberspace. These efforts include awareness campaigns, the establishment of the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), and a toll-free helpline. State and Union Territory Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) handle cybercrime incidents reported on the NCRP according to law.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Responsibility:**
* The government aims to ensure a safe, trusted, and accountable cyberspace.
* States/UTs are primarily responsible for preventing, detecting, investigating, and prosecuting cybercrimes.
* The Central Government supplements State initiatives through advisories and capacity-building schemes for police personnel.
* **National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP):**
* The Ministry of Home Affairs has established the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to combat cybercrimes.
* The NCRP (cybercrime.gov.in) allows users to submit complaints, upload evidence, and track case progress.
* A toll-free helpline number 1930 is operational for assistance with lodging online cyber complaints.
* **Awareness Initiatives:**
* The Prime Minister has raised awareness about digital arrest scams.
* The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) launched a caller tune campaign promoting the Cybercrime Helpline Number 1930 and the NCRP portal (from 19.12.2024).
* A comprehensive awareness program on digital arrest scams includes newspaper advertisements, announcements in metros, social media campaigns, Prasar Bharti and electronic media campaigns, and special programs on Aakashvani.
* Further awareness efforts involve SMS messages, I4C social media accounts, TV and radio campaigns, school campaigns, cinema hall advertisements, celebrity endorsements, IPL campaigns, campaigns during Kumbh Mela 2025, engagement with MyGov, Cyber Safety and Security Awareness weeks, handbooks for adolescents/students, and digital displays at railway stations and airports.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Internet Users:**
* *Impact:* Increased awareness of cybercrime reporting mechanisms and access to resources for reporting incidents.
* *Action Required:* Utilize the NCRP (cybercrime.gov.in) and helpline number 1930 to report cybercrime incidents.
* **State/UT Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for handling cybercrime incidents reported on the NCRP, including investigation, filing FIRs, arrest, and resolution of complaints.
* *Action Required:* Address cybercrime reports filed through the NCRP as per the provisions of the law.
* **Central Government (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Telecommunications):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for developing and implementing policies, awareness campaigns, and infrastructure (NCRP, I4C) to combat cybercrime.
* *Action Required:* Continue to develop and support initiatives that promote cybersecurity awareness and provide resources for reporting cybercrime.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: The Indian government ministry responsible for electronics and information technology policy.
National Statistical Office: The Indian government organization that conducts surveys and collects statistics.
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: Online platform (cybercrime.gov.in) set up by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to report cybercrimes.
Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre I4C: An agency established by the Ministry of Home Affairs to deal with cybercrimes in India.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, which defines the framework of political principles, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions.
Department of Telecommunications DoT: A department under the Ministry of Communications of the Government of India.
Mann Ki Baat: A radio programme hosted by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
Kumbh Mela 2025: A major Hindu pilgrimage and festival scheduled to occur in 2025.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1736
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 30.07.2025
AWARENESS AMONG INTERNET USERS
1736. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that only 18 percent of internet users in the country know
how to report e-crimes, as revealed in the surveys conducted by the National Statistical Office
(NSO);
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to increase awareness among internet users about the
reporting mechanisms for cyber crimes;
(c) the details of the steps taken or proposed by the Government to strengthen online platforms
like the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal to make them more user-friendly and accessible
to all including those with limited digital literacy; and
(d) whether the Government has conducted or plans to conduct further studies including follow-
up surveys to identify reasons behind the lack of awareness and to assess the effectiveness of
existing reporting mechanisms and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (d): The policies of the Government of India are aimed at ensuring an open, safe, trusted
and accountable cyberspace for all users in the country. Government remains conscious of the
challenged of cybersecurity and cybercrime.
‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of
India. The States/UTs are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation and
prosecution of crimes including cyber crime through their Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs).
The Central Government supplements the initiatives of the State Governments through various
advisories and schemes for the capacity building of their police personnel.
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
• The Ministry of Home Affairs has set up the ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’
(I4C) to deal with cybercrimes.
• I4C has launched ‘National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal’ (NCRP)
(https://cybercrime.gov.in) to submit cybercrime complaints. Users can lodge complaints
online, upload relevant evidence, and track the progress of their cases.• A toll-free Helpline number ‘1930’ has been operationalized to get assistance in lodging
online cyber complaints.
• Cyber crime incidents reported on National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, their conversion
into FIRs and subsequent action i.e. filing of chargesheets, arrest and resolution of
complaints, thereon are handled by the State/UT Law Enforcement Agencies concerned as
per the provisions of the law.
Steps taken by the Central Government through various initiatives to create cyber crime
awareness
• Hon’ble Prime Minister about the frauds like digital arrests during the episode “Mann Ki
Baat” on 27.10.2024 creating awareness amongst the people.
• Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched a caller tune campaign with
effect from 19.12.2024 for raising awareness about cybercrime and promoting the
Cybercrime Helpline Number 1930 & NCRP portal.
• Central Government has launched a comprehensive awareness programme on digital
arrest scams which, inter-alia, include; newspaper advertisement, announcement in
metros, use of social media to create awareness, campaign through Prasar Bharti and
electronic media, special programme on Aakashvani, etc.
• To further spread awareness on cyber crime, the Central Government has taken steps
which, inter-alia, include; dissemination of messages through SMS, I4C social media
account i.e. X (formerly Twitter) (@CyberDost), Facebook(CyberDostI4C), Instagram
(CyberDostI4C), Telegram(cyberdosti4c), SMS campaign, TV campaign, Radio
campaign, School Campaign, advertisement in cinema halls, celebrity endorsement, IPL
campaign, campaign during Kumbh Mela 2025, engaged MyGov for publicity in multiple
mediums, organizing Cyber Safety and Security Awareness weeks in association with
States/UTs, publishing of Handbook for Adolescents/Students, digital displays on railway
stations and airports across, etc.
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