Lok Sabha Question No. 1531 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-29
Subject: Cyber-Crime Targeting Children
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Pradyut Bordoloi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1531

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29 TH  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

## 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.  T he  '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.

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  S tates' 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.

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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 |
|------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| 1    | Cyber Blackmailing/Threatening/Harassment                                            |      4 |      3 |      3 |     23 |     74 |
| 2    | Fake Profile                                                                         |      3 |      2 |      1 |      9 |      2 |
| 3    | Cyber Pornography/ Hosting or Publishing Obscene Sexual Materials depicting children |     44 |    103 |    738 |    969 |   1171 |
| 4    | Cyber Stalking/Bullying                                                              |     40 |     44 |    140 |    123 |    158 |
| 5    | Internet Crimes through Online Games etc                                             |      0 |      1 |      0 |      0 |      2 |
| 6    | Other Crimes against Children                                                        |    141 |    153 |    220 |    252 |    416 |
|      | Total Cyber crimes against Children                                                  |    232 |    306 |   1102 |   1376 |   1823 |

Source: Crime in India