Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Home Affairs' response to a parliamentary question regarding cybercrime targeting children. It details the number of incidents, government assessments, cybersecurity awareness measures in Northeast India, and child-friendly reporting mechanisms. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) up to 2022 is included, and initiatives by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) are highlighted.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Data on Cyber Crimes Against Children:**
* The NCRB compiles and publishes data on cyber crimes, including those against children under 18.
* Statistical data from 2018 to 2022 shows a fluctuating number of registered cases, with a detailed breakdown by crime type (blackmailing, fake profiles, cyber pornography, cyber stalking, internet crimes, and other crimes).
* **Government Initiatives and Coordination:**
* Police and Public Order are State subjects; States/UTs are responsible for preventing and prosecuting cybercrimes, including those against children.
* The Central Government supports States/UTs through advisories and financial assistance for capacity building.
* The I4C was established on July 1, 2024, to coordinate efforts against cybercrime.
* The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) allows the public to report cybercrime incidents, with a focus on crimes against women and children.
* A toll-free helpline number 1930 is operational for online cyber complaint assistance.
* **Cybersecurity Awareness and Education:**
* The Central Government is implementing cybercrime awareness programs, including for children in the North Eastern States.
* Special online sessions are conducted through CBSE for schools, including those in the North East.
* Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) also conducts awareness sessions in the North East.
* I4C is designing a booklet on cyber hygiene, specifically for women and children, to be distributed in North East schools and district centers.
* I4C is collaborating with NCERT to include cyber hygiene in school curricula in the North East.
* I4C has provided Cyber Hygiene training to over 2 lakh NCC, NSS, and NYKS students.
* Cybercrime awareness messages are publicized through newspapers, FM/TV channels, and post offices, including in the North Eastern States.
Impact Analysis:
* **States/Union Territories:**
* *Impact:* Primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of cybercrimes against children.
* *Action Required:* Utilize Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to address cybercrime incidents; implement advisories and leverage financial assistance from the Central Government to enhance LEA capabilities.
* **Children and Parents:**
* *Impact:* Increased awareness of cyber risks and access to reporting mechanisms.
* *Action Required:* Utilize the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and the toll-free helpline number 1930 to report incidents.
* **Schools and Educational Institutions (CBSE, NCERT):**
* *Impact:* Integration of cybersecurity awareness and digital safety education into curricula.
* *Action Required:* Implement cyber hygiene chapters in school curricula and facilitate awareness sessions for students.
* **Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C):**
* *Impact:* Central coordinating body for cybercrime prevention.
* *Action Required:* Continue awareness campaigns, training programs, and collaboration with other departments (e.g., Department of Posts) to disseminate cyber safety information.
* **Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs):**
* *Impact:* Frontline responders to cybercrime incidents.
* *Action Required:* Handle cybercrime incidents reported on the NCRP, convert reports into FIRs, and take subsequent legal action.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI: Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding cybercrime targeting children.
Indian Cyber crime Coordination Centre I4C: A Central Government initiative established to coordinate efforts in combating cybercrime.
NorthEast: Refers to the North Eastern region of India, specifically mentioned in the context of cybercrime against children and awareness programs.
National Crime Records Bureau NCRB: An Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data, including cybercrimes.
Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India: Refers to the division of powers between the Union and the States, highlighting that Police and Public Order are State subjects.
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal NCRP: A platform launched as part of the I4C to enable the public to report cybercrime incidents.
CBSE: Central Board of Secondary Education. Conducted awareness sessions in online mode which was also delivered to schools in North eastern States.
Information Security Education and Awareness ISEA: An initiative under MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) that conducts awareness sessions on digital safety.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1531
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY, 2025/ SRAVANA 7, 1947 (SAKA)
CYBER-CRIME TARGETING CHILDREN
1531. SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details regarding the number of incidents of cyber-enabled financial
frauds against children, including through online gaming platforms and
social media during the last five years and the financial impact of the
same;
(b) whether the Government has assessed the efficacy of the Indian Cyber
crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and regional cyber crime units in dealing
with cyber frauds against children in the North-East and if so, the main
outcomes of the assessment;
(c) the specific measures that are underway to increase cybersecurity
awareness and digital safety education among children in the North east,
particularly in tribal areas; and
(d) the measures being taken by the Government to enhance child-friendly
cyber crime reporting mechanisms?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR)
(a) to (d): The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and
publishes the statistical data on crimes in its publication “Crime in India”.
The latest published report is for the year 2022. As per the data published
by the NCRB, details of crime head-wise cases registered under cyber-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1531 FOR 29.07.2025
crimes against children(below 18 years) during the period from 2018 to
2022 are at Annexure.
‘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 and cyber crime against children through
their Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). The Central Government
supplements the initiatives of the States/UTs through advisories and
financial assistance under various schemes for capacity building of their
LEAs. The ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’ (I4C) has been
established as an attached office on 01.07.2024.
The ‘National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal’ (NCRP)
(https://cybercrime.gov.in) has been launched, as a part of the I4C, to
enable public to report incidents pertaining to all types of cyber crimes,
with special focus on cyber crimes against women and children. Cyber
crime incidents reported on this portal, their conversion into FIRs and
subsequent action thereon are handled by the State/UT Law Enforcement
Agencies concerned as per the provisions of the law. A toll-free Helpline
number ‘1930’ has been operationalized to get assistance in lodging online
cyber complaints.-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1531 FOR 29.07.2025
The Central Government has taken various initiatives to create cyber
crime awareness including among children in the North eastern States.
Special awareness session was conducted through CBSE in online mode,
which was also delivered to schools in North eastern States. Information
Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) under MeitY also conducts
similar sessions in north eastern states for awareness of children on
digital safety. A special booklet in collaboration with ISEA is being
designed by I4C on cyber hygiene, specially targeted at women and
children, which will be delivered to North East States’ schools and district
centres. I4C is also in touch with NCERT to include cyber hygiene chapter
in course curriculum which will be taught in schools of North East States,
as well. I4C, MHA has imparted Cyber Hygiene training to more than 2 lakh
NCC, NSS & NYKS Students across the country. Besides, I4C has
published Newspaper ads on cybercrime awareness in north eastern
States in local languages as well. Awareness audio and video messages
have been telecast through local FM and TV channels all across India,
including the NE states. I4C has also collaborated with Department of
Posts to publicize cyber awareness messages in post offices of North
eastern rural and urban areas.
****ANNEXURE
L.S.US. Q. NO. 1531 FOR 29.07.2025
Crime Heads-wise Cases Registered under Cyber Crimes against Children (below 18
Yrs.) during 2018-2022
SL Crime Heads 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Cyber
1 4 3 3 23 74
Blackmailing/Threatening/Harassment
2 Fake Profile 3 2 1 9 2
Cyber Pornography/ Hosting or
3 Publishing Obscene Sexual Materials 44 103 738 969 1171
depicting children
4 Cyber Stalking/Bullying 40 44 140 123 158
Internet Crimes through Online Games
5 0 1 0 0 2
etc
6 Other Crimes against Children 141 153 220 252 416
Total Cyber crimes against Children 232 306 1102 1376 1823
Source: Crime in India
******