Lok Sabha Question No. 2398 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-13
Subject: Undertrial Prisoners and Measures for Expedited Release
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Dr. Prabha Mallikarjun, Shri Tangella Uday Srinivas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2398 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 13 th  FEBRUARY, 2026

## UNDERTRIAL PRISONERS AND MEASURES FOR EXPEDITED RELEASE

## 2398.   DR. PRABHA MALLIKARJUN: SHRI TANGELLA UDAY SRINIVAS:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of undertrial prisoners lodged in jails for periods of up to three years, three to five years and more than five years, category-wise and State-wise;
- (b) the initiatives undertaken to reduce prolonged undertrial detention, along with details of funds allocated, released and utilised therefor;
- (c) the details of funds allocated, released and utilised by Undertrial Review Committees during  the  last  five  years,  year-wise  and  State-wise,  with  district-wise  details  for Andhra Pradesh, including Kakinada;
- (d) the  number  of  undertrial  prisoners  recommended  for  release  by  UTRCs  and  the number actually released during the said period;
- (e) the steps taken to operationalise bail reforms under recent judicial directions; and
- (f) whether any technology-based systems have been adopted for identification, tracking and  timely  release  of  eligible  undertrial  prisoners  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof, including funding and inter-agency coordination mechanisms?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

- (a): National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles prison statistics reported to it by the States  and  Union  Territories  (UTs)  and  publishes  the  same  in  its  annual  publication

'Prison Statistics India'. As per the latest published data for the year 2023, State/UT wise number of undertrial prisoners confined upto three years, three to five years and more than  five  years  in  the  jails  of  the  country  as  on  31.12.2023  are  attached  as  given  at Annexure - A (Category Wise) and Annexure - B (State Wise). These data are readily available on National Crime Records Bureau website: https://www.ncrb.gov.in/ uploads/files/PSI-20231.pdf.

- (b) and (c): 'Prisons  and Prisoners' is a State-list subject under Entry 4 of List II of the Seventh  Schedule  to  the  Constitution  of  India.  Therefore,  the  administration  and management  of prisons and prisoners is the responsibility of respective State Governments.  Central  Government  has  also  been  supplementing  the  efforts  of  State Governments in this regard.

With the objective of providing financial assistance to poor prisoners, who are unable to pay the fine imposed on them or are unable to secure bail due to financial constraints, the  Government  is  implementing  a  scheme  named  'Support  to  Poor  Prisoners'.  The guidelines and SOP for implementation of the Scheme, has provision for bail assistance amounting upto Rs. 1 lakh, prescribing timelines for case processing, and simplification of procedures for drawal and utilisation of funds.

For  implementation  of  the  Scheme,  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  (MHA)  had provided an annual financial outlay of Rs. 20 crore for three years i.e. 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26. As on 10.02.2026, funds amounting to Rs. 71,71,476/- have already been utilized by States and UTs, providing benefit of the Scheme to 273 eligible prisoners.

Further,  National  Legal  Services  Authority  (NALSA)  has  taken  initiatives  for establishment  of  Under  Trial  Review  Committees  (UTRCs)  in  all  the  districts  to recommend for release of eligible undertrial prisoners and convicts. Quarterly meetings are  held  by  UTRCs  across  the  country.  NALSA  allocates  funds  to  the  State  Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) and the SLSAs allocate funds to the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) and High Court Legal Services Committees (HCLSCs). NALSA does  not  maintain  DLSA/HCLSC  and  scheme  wise  details  of  funds  allocation  and utilisation.

(d) to (f): The number of undertrial prisoners recommended by UTRCs and released during last five years are as under:

| Year   | No. of UTPs/ Convicts recommended for bail/ release   | No. of inmates released pursuant to UTRCs recommendations   |
|--------|-------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
| 36,983 | 17,020                                                | 2021                                                        |
| 70,780 | 35,480                                                | 2022                                                        |
| 73,274 | 34,232                                                | 2023                                                        |
| 53,594 | 25,982                                                | 2024                                                        |
| 40,434 | 22,523                                                | 2025                                                        |
| Total  | 2,75,065                                              | 1,35,237                                                    |

Several initiatives are undertaken by the Government to operationalize bail reforms. Section 479 (1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) provides that 'Where a person has, during the period of investigation, inquiry or trial under this Sanhita of an offence under any law (not being an offence for which the punishment of death or life imprisonment has been specified as one of the punishments under that law) undergone detention for a period extending up to one-half of the maximum period of imprisonment specified for that offence under that law, he shall be released by the Court on bail.'

The Proviso under Section 479 (1) of the BNSS provides further relief to first time offenders/undertrial prisoners and provides that 'where such person is a first-time offender (who has never been convicted of any offence in the past), he shall be released on bond by the  Court,  if  he  has  undergone  detention  for  the  period  extending  up  to  one-third  of  the maximum  period  of  imprisonment  specified  for  such  offence  under  that  law.'  Further, technology  based  alerts  are  generated  through  the  ePrisons  portal  under  Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) and are sent to concerned officials for taking appropriate action for timely release of undertrial prisoners.

Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.  2398  for  answer  on 13/02/2026 regarding 'Undertrial Prisoners and Measures for Expedited Release'

| State/UT-wise and Category-wise number of Undertrial Prisoners lodged in jails as on 31st December, 2023   | State/UT-wise and Category-wise number of Undertrial Prisoners lodged in jails as on 31st December, 2023   | State/UT-wise and Category-wise number of Undertrial Prisoners lodged in jails as on 31st December, 2023   | State/UT-wise and Category-wise number of Undertrial Prisoners lodged in jails as on 31st December, 2023   | State/UT-wise and Category-wise number of Undertrial Prisoners lodged in jails as on 31st December, 2023   | State/UT-wise and Category-wise number of Undertrial Prisoners lodged in jails as on 31st December, 2023   | State/UT-wise and Category-wise number of Undertrial Prisoners lodged in jails as on 31st December, 2023   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                                                                                                     | State/UT                                                                                                   | SC                                                                                                         | ST                                                                                                         | OBC                                                                                                        | Others                                                                                                     | Total                                                                                                      |
| (1)                                                                                                        | (2)                                                                                                        | (3)                                                                                                        | (4)                                                                                                        | (5)                                                                                                        | (6)                                                                                                        | (7)                                                                                                        |
| 1                                                                                                          | ANDHRA PRADESH                                                                                             | 1089                                                                                                       | 1453                                                                                                       | 1908                                                                                                       | 1118                                                                                                       | 5568                                                                                                       |
| 2                                                                                                          | ARUNACHAL PRADESH                                                                                          | 9                                                                                                          | 124                                                                                                        | 48                                                                                                         | 7                                                                                                          | 188                                                                                                        |
| 3                                                                                                          | ASSAM                                                                                                      | 863                                                                                                        | 898                                                                                                        | 2434                                                                                                       | 3351                                                                                                       | 7546                                                                                                       |
| 4                                                                                                          | BIHAR                                                                                                      | 8549                                                                                                       | 1514                                                                                                       | 26411                                                                                                      | 10055                                                                                                      | 46529                                                                                                      |
| 5                                                                                                          | CHHATTISGARH                                                                                               | 2100                                                                                                       | 3648                                                                                                       | 4025                                                                                                       | 1747                                                                                                       | 11520                                                                                                      |
| 6                                                                                                          | GOA                                                                                                        | 44                                                                                                         | 61                                                                                                         | 59                                                                                                         | 312                                                                                                        | 476                                                                                                        |
| 7                                                                                                          | GUJARAT                                                                                                    | 1409                                                                                                       | 1719                                                                                                       | 5353                                                                                                       | 3068                                                                                                       | 11549                                                                                                      |
| 8                                                                                                          | HARYANA                                                                                                    | 5868                                                                                                       | 1564                                                                                                       | 5920                                                                                                       | 5940                                                                                                       | 19292                                                                                                      |
| 9                                                                                                          | HIMACHAL PRADESH                                                                                           | 537                                                                                                        | 35                                                                                                         | 161                                                                                                        | 1094                                                                                                       | 1827                                                                                                       |
| 10                                                                                                         | JHARKHAND                                                                                                  | 2398                                                                                                       | 3765                                                                                                       | 5488                                                                                                       | 1933                                                                                                       | 13584                                                                                                      |
| 11                                                                                                         | KARNATAKA                                                                                                  | 2627                                                                                                       | 1237                                                                                                       | 6888                                                                                                       | 971                                                                                                        | 11723                                                                                                      |
| 12                                                                                                         | KERALA                                                                                                     | 1115                                                                                                       | 428                                                                                                        | 3353                                                                                                       | 1168                                                                                                       | 6064                                                                                                       |
| 13                                                                                                         | MADHYAPRADESH                                                                                              | 4385                                                                                                       | 4891                                                                                                       | 9279                                                                                                       | 4409                                                                                                       | 22964                                                                                                      |
| 14                                                                                                         | MAHARASHTRA $                                                                                              | -                                                                                                          | -                                                                                                          | -                                                                                                          | -                                                                                                          | 32438                                                                                                      |
| 15                                                                                                         | MANIPUR                                                                                                    | 15                                                                                                         | 142                                                                                                        | 104                                                                                                        | 155                                                                                                        | 416                                                                                                        |
| 16                                                                                                         | MEGHALAYA                                                                                                  | 102                                                                                                        | 643                                                                                                        | 48                                                                                                         | 88                                                                                                         | 881                                                                                                        |
| 17                                                                                                         | MIZORAM                                                                                                    | 77                                                                                                         | 1168                                                                                                       | 1                                                                                                          | 1                                                                                                          | 1247                                                                                                       |
| 18                                                                                                         | NAGALAND                                                                                                   | 25                                                                                                         | 318                                                                                                        | 58                                                                                                         | 31                                                                                                         | 432                                                                                                        |
| 19                                                                                                         | ODISHA                                                                                                     | 4374                                                                                                       | 3961                                                                                                       | 3982                                                                                                       | 2461                                                                                                       | 14778                                                                                                      |
| 20                                                                                                         | PUNJAB                                                                                                     | 7389                                                                                                       | 2134                                                                                                       | 3659                                                                                                       | 11321                                                                                                      | 24503                                                                                                      |

| 21                                 | RAJASTHAN                          | 3636                               | 2767                                   | 7240                                   | 3620                                   | 17263                                  |
|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| 22                                 | SIKKIM                             | 30                                 | 36                                     | 89                                     | 16                                     | 171                                    |
| 23                                 | TAMIL NADU                         | 3887                               | 308                                    | 7906                                   | 250                                    | 12351                                  |
| 24                                 | TELANGANA                          | 831                                | 501                                    | 1429                                   | 1038                                   | 3799                                   |
| 25                                 | TRIPURA                            | 144                                | 185                                    | 87                                     | 431                                    | 847                                    |
| 26                                 | UTTAR PRADESH                      | 20534                              | 3489                                   | 31596                                  | 17872                                  | 73491                                  |
| 27                                 | UTTARAKHAND                        | 1369                               | 298                                    | 1284                                   | 1447                                   | 4398                                   |
| 28                                 | WEST BENGAL                        | 2437                               | 840                                    | 2442                                   | 14575                                  | 20294                                  |
| 29                                 | A &NISLANDS                        | 0                                  | 4                                      | 17                                     | 147                                    | 168                                    |
| 30                                 | CHANDIGARH                         | 267                                | 2                                      | 168                                    | 281                                    | 718                                    |
| 31                                 | DNH&DAMANDIU                       | 22                                 | 16                                     | 37                                     | 59                                     | 134                                    |
| 32                                 | DELHI                              | 3838                               | 383                                    | 5753                                   | 7860                                   | 17834                                  |
| 33                                 | JAMMU&KASHMIR                      | 165                                | 432                                    | 187                                    | 3784                                   | 4568                                   |
| 34                                 | LADAKH                             | 0                                  | 20                                     | 6                                      | 16                                     | 42                                     |
| 35                                 | LAKSHADWEEP                        | 0                                  | 3                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      | 3                                      |
| 36                                 | PUDUCHERRY                         | 57                                 | 0                                      | 245                                    | 2                                      | 304                                    |
|                                    | TOTAL                              | 80192                              | 38987                                  | 137665                                 | 100628                                 | 389910                                 |
| As per data provided by States/UTs | As per data provided by States/UTs | As per data provided by States/UTs | $ Maharashtra did not provide breakup. | $ Maharashtra did not provide breakup. | $ Maharashtra did not provide breakup. | $ Maharashtra did not provide breakup. |

Source: Prison Statistics India 2023 Report by National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs.

## Annexure-B

Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2398 for answer on 13/02/2026 regarding  'Undertrial Prisoners and Measures for Expedited Release'

| State/UT-wise number of Undertrial prisoners lodged in jails for period of up to three years, three to five years and above five years as on 31st December, 2023   | State/UT-wise number of Undertrial prisoners lodged in jails for period of up to three years, three to five years and above five years as on 31st December, 2023   | State/UT-wise number of Undertrial prisoners lodged in jails for period of up to three years, three to five years and above five years as on 31st December, 2023   | State/UT-wise number of Undertrial prisoners lodged in jails for period of up to three years, three to five years and above five years as on 31st December, 2023   | State/UT-wise number of Undertrial prisoners lodged in jails for period of up to three years, three to five years and above five years as on 31st December, 2023   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                                                                                                                                                             | State/UT                                                                                                                                                           | Upto 3 years                                                                                                                                                       | 3 to 5 Years                                                                                                                                                       | Above 5 Years                                                                                                                                                      |
| (1)                                                                                                                                                                | (2)                                                                                                                                                                | (5)                                                                                                                                                                | (6)                                                                                                                                                                | (7)                                                                                                                                                                |
| 1                                                                                                                                                                  | ANDHRA PRADESH                                                                                                                                                     | 5529                                                                                                                                                               | 36                                                                                                                                                                 | 3                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 2                                                                                                                                                                  | ARUNACHAL PRADESH                                                                                                                                                  | 171                                                                                                                                                                | 14                                                                                                                                                                 | 3                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 3                                                                                                                                                                  | ASSAM                                                                                                                                                              | 7263                                                                                                                                                               | 136                                                                                                                                                                | 147                                                                                                                                                                |
| 4                                                                                                                                                                  | BIHAR                                                                                                                                                              | 45035                                                                                                                                                              | 1198                                                                                                                                                               | 296                                                                                                                                                                |
| 5                                                                                                                                                                  | CHHATTISGARH                                                                                                                                                       | 10975                                                                                                                                                              | 501                                                                                                                                                                | 44                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 6                                                                                                                                                                  | GOA                                                                                                                                                                | 390                                                                                                                                                                | 64                                                                                                                                                                 | 22                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 7                                                                                                                                                                  | GUJARAT                                                                                                                                                            | 10219                                                                                                                                                              | 866                                                                                                                                                                | 464                                                                                                                                                                |
| 8                                                                                                                                                                  | HARYANA                                                                                                                                                            | 18098                                                                                                                                                              | 778                                                                                                                                                                | 416                                                                                                                                                                |
| 9                                                                                                                                                                  | HIMACHAL PRADESH                                                                                                                                                   | 1645                                                                                                                                                               | 125                                                                                                                                                                | 57                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 10                                                                                                                                                                 | JHARKHAND                                                                                                                                                          | 12172                                                                                                                                                              | 931                                                                                                                                                                | 481                                                                                                                                                                |
| 11                                                                                                                                                                 | KARNATAKA                                                                                                                                                          | 10867                                                                                                                                                              | 630                                                                                                                                                                | 226                                                                                                                                                                |
| 12                                                                                                                                                                 | KERALA                                                                                                                                                             | 6030                                                                                                                                                               | 26                                                                                                                                                                 | 8                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 13                                                                                                                                                                 | MADHYAPRADESH                                                                                                                                                      | 21792                                                                                                                                                              | 1057                                                                                                                                                               | 115                                                                                                                                                                |
| 14                                                                                                                                                                 | MAHARASHTRA                                                                                                                                                        | 26402                                                                                                                                                              | 3823                                                                                                                                                               | 2213                                                                                                                                                               |
| 15                                                                                                                                                                 | MANIPUR                                                                                                                                                            | 393                                                                                                                                                                | 5                                                                                                                                                                  | 18                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 16                                                                                                                                                                 | MEGHALAYA                                                                                                                                                          | 802                                                                                                                                                                | 55                                                                                                                                                                 | 24                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 17                                                                                                                                                                 | MIZORAM                                                                                                                                                            | 1235                                                                                                                                                               | 12                                                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 18                                                                                                                                                                 | NAGALAND                                                                                                                                                           | 409                                                                                                                                                                | 11                                                                                                                                                                 | 12                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 19                                                                                                                                                                 | ODISHA                                                                                                                                                             | 13480                                                                                                                                                              | 884                                                                                                                                                                | 414                                                                                                                                                                |
| 20                                                                                                                                                                 | PUNJAB                                                                                                                                                             | 23270                                                                                                                                                              | 1050                                                                                                                                                               | 183                                                                                                                                                                |
| 21                                                                                                                                                                 | RAJASTHAN                                                                                                                                                          | 15523                                                                                                                                                              | 1276                                                                                                                                                               | 464                                                                                                                                                                |
| 22                                                                                                                                                                 | SIKKIM                                                                                                                                                             | 167                                                                                                                                                                | 4                                                                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 23                                                                                                                                                                 | TAMIL NADU                                                                                                                                                         | 12199                                                                                                                                                              | 106                                                                                                                                                                | 46                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 24                                                                                                                                                                 | TELANGANA                                                                                                                                                          | 3769                                                                                                                                                               | 21                                                                                                                                                                 | 9                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 25                                                                                                                                                                 | TRIPURA                                                                                                                                                            | 847                                                                                                                                                                | 0                                                                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 26                                                                                                                                                                 | UTTAR PRADESH                                                                                                                                                      | 65378                                                                                                                                                              | 5474                                                                                                                                                               | 2639                                                                                                                                                               |
| 27                                                                                                                                                                 | UTTARAKHAND                                                                                                                                                        | 4099                                                                                                                                                               | 251                                                                                                                                                                | 48                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 28                                                                                                                                                                 | WEST BENGAL                                                                                                                                                        | 17128                                                                                                                                                              | 1921                                                                                                                                                               | 1245                                                                                                                                                               |
| 29                                                                                                                                                                 | A &NISLANDS                                                                                                                                                        | 150                                                                                                                                                                | 16                                                                                                                                                                 | 2                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 30                                                                                                                                                                 | CHANDIGARH                                                                                                                                                         | 679                                                                                                                                                                | 30                                                                                                                                                                 | 9                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 31                                                                                                                                                                 | DNH&DAMANDIU                                                                                                                                                       | 102                                                                                                                                                                | 22                                                                                                                                                                 | 10                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 32                                                                                                                                                                 | DELHI                                                                                                                                                              | 16286                                                                                                                                                              | 1051                                                                                                                                                               | 497                                                                                                                                                                |
| 33                                                                                                                                                                 | JAMMU& KASHMIR                                                                                                                                                     | 3667                                                                                                                                                               | 626                                                                                                                                                                | 275                                                                                                                                                                |

Source: Prison Statistics India 2023 Report by National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs.

| 34   | LADAKH      |     36 |     4 |     2 |
|------|-------------|--------|-------|-------|
| 35   | LAKSHADWEEP |      3 |     0 |     0 |
| 36   | PUDUCHERRY  |    302 |     2 |     0 |
|      |             | 356512 | 23006 | 10392 |