Several states not traditionally associated with high levels of cybercrime have recorded some of the most dramatic increases. Telangana, for instance, registered an over 1,000 percent rise in cybercrime complaints. Odisha jumped from 6,053 reported cases in 2021 to 53,488 in 2024, marking a 783 percent increase. Gujarat saw an 825 percent spike in complaints, the second-highest among all major states. Karnataka, despite being a technology hub, experienced a 764 percent rise—from 19,609 in 2021 to 1,69,384 in 2024.
Maharashtra, with the highest number of total cybercrime cases in 2024, reported 3,03,173 incidents, compared to 40,987 in 2021—an increase of 640 percent. Bihar’s jump from 13,911 cases in 2021 to 99,512 in 2024 represents a 615 percent increase, underscoring the growing entrenchment of digital fraud in states with expanding internet usage. Himachal Pradesh, once considered low-risk, saw a six-fold increase from 2,024 to 13,990 cases during the same period. Even Jammu & Kashmir reported a 499 percent surge, from 2,515 incidents in 2021 to 15,088 in 2024. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, too, saw significant increases—256 percent and 436 percent respectively.
In response to this growing threat, the MHA, through its Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), has launched several initiatives aimed at curbing cyber fraud. Among them is the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting System and the dedicated helpline 1930, which have collectively helped recover over Rs 5,489 crore in nearly 17.8 lakh complaints. In addition, the government has blocked over 9.42 lakh SIM cards and 2.63 lakh IMEIs to disrupt fraudulent digital networks. Cyber forensic-cum-training labs have been set up in 33 states and union territories, and more than 24,600 police and judicial officials have been trained in cybercrime investigation and response, signalling a robust institutional effort to address one of the fastest-evolving threats in the digital age.
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