Parliament Question: Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3829 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026 PROTECTION OF WOMEN FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT 3829. SHRI MOHAMMED NADIMUL HAQUE: Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) the number of cases registered under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act during the last five years; and (b) the number of Protection Officers appointed and in position? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR) (a) and (b): The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes data on crimes, including crime against women, in its publication “Crime in India”, which is available on the website of NCRB https://ncrb.gov.in. The said report is available upto the year 2023. As per the NCRB report, the number of cases registered under ‘the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005’ (PWDVA) during the last five years i.e. 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 are 553, 446, 507, 468 and 632 respectively. “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 investigation and prosecution in crimes against women and children rests with the respective State Governments and they are competent to deal with it. Nevertheless, the Central Government gives highest priority to ensuring safety and security of women and has taken several legislative and policy interventions. Further, Section 8 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), 2005 mandates the States and UTs to appoint such number of Protection Officers in each district as it may consider necessary and also to notify the area(s) within which a Protection Officer shall exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred. It is the duty of the Protection Officer to report the cases of domestic violence to the Magistrate upon receipt of complaints and to assist the Magistrate in the discharge of his functions. However, conviction of an accused person is done by the competent court after careful consideration of factual positions, evidence and all related legal aspects as per the provisions of law. The PWDVA provides to women remedies such as protection order, residence order, custody order, monetary relief, compensation order etc. under it. The details of Protection Officers (POs) under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA) are available on the 'Mission Shakti Portal. As on 23.03.2026, the States and UTs have updated the details of over 2,428 POs. *****