**Executive Summary:**
This document is the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4265 regarding sexual violence cases. It acknowledges the rise in reported cases, explains the government's actions to address the issue, and details the prioritization of survivor-centric justice through recent legislative changes, specifically the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). The response also addresses the proposed Aparajita Bill, stating the government is seeking input from State Governments.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Crime Statistics and Reporting:**
* The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes annual crime data.
* There has been an increase in registered cases of crime against women from 2020 to 2022.
* Increased awareness, improved law enforcement, and easier FIR filing contribute to better reporting.
* **Government Measures:**
* The Government of India prioritizes women's safety and security.
* Measures include amendments in criminal laws, technological infrastructure support, training programs for State Police, and financial assistance to States/UTs.
* **Survivor-Centric Legislative Framework:**
* India has a robust legislative framework with stringent laws and timelines for investigation and trial.
* The recently enacted BNS, BNSS, and BSA prioritize survivor-centric and time-bound justice.
* **Key Provisions of New Criminal Laws (BNS, BNSS, BSA):**
* *Ease of Reporting:* Online reporting and Zero FIR are now permitted.
* *Exemption from going to police station:* Women, persons below 15 years, persons above 60 years, and those with disabilities or acute illness are exempt from attending police stations.
* *Victim Compensation:* State or District Legal Service Authority shall award adequate compensation within two months by completing the enquiry.
* *Faster Resolution:* Streamlined timelines for preliminary enquiry (14 days), further investigation (90 days), document supply (14 days), case commitment (90 days), discharge applications (60 days), framing of charges (60 days), judgement pronouncement (45 days), and mercy petition filing.
* *Fast-Tracked Investigations:* Prioritized investigations for offences against women and children within two months.
* *Limited Adjournments:* Courts can grant a maximum of two adjournments.
* **Aparajita Bill:**
* The bill is under examination.
* The government is seeking views/clarifications from State Governments.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **State Governments/UT Administrations:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for maintaining law and order and protecting women. Must implement the new legislative provisions and address crime against women.
* *Action Required:* Provide views/clarifications on the Aparajita Bill. Implement the new criminal laws (BNS, BNSS, BSA). Train police personnel.
* **Police Departments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for enforcing the law, investigating crimes, and ensuring timely justice.
* *Action Required:* Adhere to the new timelines for investigations and other procedures. Facilitate online reporting and Zero FIR. Ensure gender sensitivity training for officers.
* **Courts:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for fair and timely trials.
* *Action Required:* Adhere to the new timelines for case resolution and limit adjournments.
* **Victims of Sexual Violence:**
* *Impact:* Aims to provide easier reporting, faster justice, and timely compensation.
* *Action Required:* Utilize online reporting and Zero FIR options. Apply for victim compensation.
* **Accused Persons:**
* *Impact:* Subject to faster trials and investigations, with clearly defined timelines.
* *Action Required:* File discharge applications within 60 days.
Key Entities Referenced
Junglemahal, West Bengal: A tribal and rural region in the state of West Bengal, India, mentioned in the context of rising cases of sexual violence.
Aparajita Bill: A proposed bill regarding sexual violence, which the Government is considering adopting in collaboration with State Governments.
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB): An Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data, which publishes the 'Crime in India' report annually.
Crime in India: An annual publication by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) containing statistical data on crimes reported by States and Union Territories.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, under which Police and Public Order are State subjects in the Seventh Schedule.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): One of the three recently enacted criminal laws in India that prioritizes survivor-centric and time-bound justice.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS): One of the three recently enacted criminal laws in India that prioritizes survivor-centric and time-bound justice.
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA): One of the three recently enacted criminal laws in India that prioritizes survivor-centric and time-bound justice.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4265
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19THAUGUST, 2025/SHRAVAN 28, 1947 (SAKA)
CASES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE
4265. SMT. JUNE MALIAH:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government acknowledges that cases of sexual violence
are rising, including in tribal and rural regions like Junglemahal in West
Bengal;
(b) the reasons why survivor-centric and time-bound justice legislation is
not being prioritised; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to adopt the Aparajita Bill in
collaboration with State Governments?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR)
(a): National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles statistical data on
crimes as reported to it by the States/UTs and publishes the same in its
annual publication “Crime in India”. The latest published report pertains
to the year 2022. The number of Cases Registered under Crime against
Women during 2020-2022 is as follows:--2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 4265 FOR 19.08.2025
Year 2020 2021 2022
No. of Cases 371503 428278 445256
registered
The increased level of education and awareness in the society
about women’s rights, improved law enforcement mechanism, improved
ease of access to police stations and facilities for registration of cases,
compliance with protocol and advisories for filing of FIR, including Zero
FIR, training on gender sensitivity of officers, strict action against erring
officials etc., have led to better reporting of crime.
‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are ‘State’ subjects under the Seventh
Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibility to maintain law
and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including
women, rests with the respective State Governments/UT
Administrations.
Government of India gives utmost importance to safety and
security of women across the country and continually monitors the
crime data and trends to roll out necessary intervention through a host
of measures which include amendments in criminal laws, developing-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 4265 FOR 19.08.2025
Technological & infrastructural support, conducting training
programmes for State Police Personnel, financial assistance & issuing
Advisories to States and UTs etc.
(b): Our country has a robust and comprehensive survivor-centric
legislative framework to address crimes against women, which includes
stringent criminal laws with clearly defined and enforceable timelines
for different stages of investigation and trial, as well as provisions for
timely payment of compensation to victims and restriction on
adjournments of cases by Courts.
Further, the survivor-centric and time bound justice legislation
have been prioritized in recently enacted three criminal laws- Bharatiya
Nyaya Sanhita(BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita(BNSS), and
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam(BSA). Some of the related provisions are
as follows:
i. Ease of Reporting: With provisions of online reporting and Zero FIR,
a person may now report incidents by electronic communication, without
the need to physically visit a police station and file a First Information
Report (FIR) at any police station, regardless of jurisdiction. This allows
for easier and quicker reporting, facilitating prompt action by the police.-4-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 4265 FOR 19.08.2025
ii. Exemption from going to police station: Women, persons below 15
years, persons above 60 years, and those with disabilities or acute
illness are exempt from attending police stations.
iii. Victim Compensation Scheme: On the recommendation for
compensation by the trial court or on the application of victim or his/her
dependents, the State or District Legal Service Authority shall award
adequate compensation within two months by completing the enquiry.
iv. Faster and Fair Resolution: The new laws promise a faster and fair
resolution of cases, instilling confidence in the legal system. Crucial
stages of investigation and trial like – preliminary enquiry (to be
completed in 14 days), further investigation (to be completed in 90 days),
supply of document to the victim and accused (within 14 days),
commitment of a case for trial (within 90 days), filing of discharge
applications (within 60 days), framing of charges (within 60 days),
pronouncement of judgement (within 45 days) and filing of mercy
petition (30 days before Governor and 60 days before President) – have
been streamlined and to be completed within stipulated time period.-5-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 4265 FOR 19.08.2025
v. Fast-Tracked Investigations: The new laws prioritize the
investigations for offences against women and children, ensuring timely
completion within two months of recording information.
vi. Limited Adjournments: Courts can grant a maximum of two
adjournments to avoid unnecessary delays in case hearing, ensuring
timely justice delivery.
(c): The Bill has been examined in consultation with the concerned
Departments/ Ministries and based on their observations, the State
Government has been requested to provide their views/clarifications.
*****