Tanushree Basuroy
Research expert covering India
Cyber crime in India - statistics & facts
India is set to transform itself into one of the world’s leading digital hubs. While greater connectivity and a digital economy promise large-scale progress, they also leave our digital societies open to new vulnerabilities. India has only just begun to develop a cybersecurity framework to protect the second-largest internet population in the world. Meanwhile, cyber crimes know no borders and have evolved at a pace at par with emerging technologies.
Despite the private sector bearing the brunt of crime online, government agencies have also experienced espionage. One such security breach was that involving India’s unique citizen identification system- the Aadhaar, compromising extensive personal information including bank details, address and biometrics of over a billion Indians. In 2024, the cost of data breaches surged over two million U.S. dollars in the country.
Another area that could ease cyber crime numbers is the expansion of the cyber security market in the country. More investments in the sector could combat increased threats that are likely to continue as the world grapples with hyperconnectivity and the era of artificial intelligence.
Who is affected by cyber crime?
Each year, the number of cyber crimes reported across the country continues to increase at a significant pace. Among the various crimes committed, cyber fraud has been a growing concern over the past few years, with financial losses valuing billions of Indian rupees annually. Sectors such as IT, healthcare, manufacturing, and finance, were most vulnerable to cyber crime. Additionally, small scale businesses were likely targets of cybercriminals, given that only 41 percent of all Indian companies were in the progressive and above stages of cyber security readiness in 2024.Despite the private sector bearing the brunt of crime online, government agencies have also experienced espionage. One such security breach was that involving India’s unique citizen identification system- the Aadhaar, compromising extensive personal information including bank details, address and biometrics of over a billion Indians. In 2024, the cost of data breaches surged over two million U.S. dollars in the country.
Challenges in dealing with cyber crime
One of the biggest impediments in curbing cyber crime in India has been the lack of awareness on cyber hygiene. Even when crimes were reported to authorities, the infrastructure and process to tackle such cases were largely inefficient. In 2018, the Ministry of Home Affairs of India set up the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to serve as a framework to combat cyber crime. The government further launched the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) under the I4C in 2019. In addition to this, the government has imposed a stringent content regulation policy on the internet and social media platforms.Another area that could ease cyber crime numbers is the expansion of the cyber security market in the country. More investments in the sector could combat increased threats that are likely to continue as the world grapples with hyperconnectivity and the era of artificial intelligence.
