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Home » Current Affairs » Growing Cyber Crimes in India: Reasons, ...
Growing Cyber Crimes in India: Reasons,
Challenges, and Way Forward

December 19, 2023

GS Paper IIIScience and Technology

Table of Contents
Context: This article is based on the news “Cyber crime growing at the
rate 15-20% annually in India: West Bengal IGP Cyber Cell” which was published
in the Economic Times. In 2022, Cyber Crimes in India recorded
a 24% increase compared to the previous year, according to the
latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau
(NCRB).
Relevancy for Prelims: NCRB
Data on Cyber Crimes in India,
National Critical Information
Infrastructure Protection Centre
(NCIIPC), Information Technology
(IT) Act, 2000, National Cyber
Security Policy (NCSP),
and Computer Emergency Response Team
(CERT-In).

Relevancy for Mains: Growing

 Cyber Crimes in India: Reasons,
Challenges, Government
Initiatives, and Way Forward.
NCRB Data on Cyber Crimes in India

 According to the report ‘Crime in India’, 65,893 cases were

registered under cybercrime, showing an increase compared
to 52,974 cases in 2021.
 Over 24,000 complaints were registered with the Delhi Police till
June 2023. During the same period in 2022, the cops had received
7,500 complaints.
o Preliminary probe data showed that most frauds originated
in Mewat (Haryana) and Jamtara (Jharkhand).
 More than 80,000 complaints have been received from West
Bengal in 2023 till November end in the national cybercrime
reporting portal.
Enroll now for UPSC Online Course
About Cyber Crime
 Cybercrime Definition: Any unlawful act where a computer or
communication device or computer network is used to commit
or facilitate the commission of crime.
o For example, Hacking, identity theft, fraud, and
Cyberstalking.
 Cybercrimes comes as a State subject as per the Seventh
Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Increasing Cyber Crimes in India: Major Reasons
 Financial gain: Through stealing financial information, such as
credit card numbers and bank accounts, or through demanding
ransom in exchange for stolen data or resources.
Manifestations of Cyber
Crimes in Real Life
 Cyber Bullying: A form of
harassment or bullying inflicted
through the use of electronic or
communication devices such as
computer, mobile phone,
laptop, etc.
 Cyber Stalking: Use of
electronic communication by a
person to follow a person, or
attempts to contact a
person to foster personal
interaction repeatedly despite a
clear indication of disinterest by
such person.
 Cyber Grooming: It is when a
person builds an online
relationship with a young
person and tricks him/her into
doing a sexual act.
 Sexting: It is an act of
sending sexually explicit
digital images, videos, text
 messages, or emails, usually by
cell phone.
 SIM Swap SCAM: This occurs
when fraudsters manage to get
a new SIM card issued against
a registered mobile number
fraudulently through the mobile
service provider.

o For example, Unified Payment Interface (UPI) frauds are
the most prevalent online financial frauds reported between
January 2020 and June 2023, according to the Future Crime
Research Foundation (FCRF) report by IIT-Kanpur.
 Espionage: Some cybercriminals engage in cyber crime to steal
confidential or proprietary information for competitive advantage or
to damage the reputation of an organization.
 Political or ideological motives: Some cybercriminals target
organizations or individuals for political or ideological reasons,
such as to promote a particular cause or to advance a particular
agenda.
o For example, the Cambridge Analytica scandal (2018) under
which the Facebook database was leaked with data of 419
million users including the data of many Indian users.
 Personal motives: Some cybercriminals engage in cybercrime to
harass, defame, or harm individuals or organizations.
 Opportunism: Some cybercriminals engage in cybercrime simply
because they can, taking advantage of security vulnerabilities in
technology or in people to steal information or resources.
o For Example: In June 2023, tech giant Microsoft
experienced temporary disruptions to its Outlook and Azure
computing services after an attack by a cybercrime group
called Anonymous Sudan.
Cyber Crimes in India: Challenges
 Rapid Technological Advancements: The rapid adoption of
technology in India has led to an increased attack surface for
cybercriminals. As new technologies such as IoT (Internet of
 Things), cloud computing, etc. become more prevalent, the
attack vectors for cybercriminals also expand.
What is Cyberterrorism?
 Cyberterrorism is often defined
as any
premeditated, politically
motivated attack against
information systems, programs,
and data that threatens
violence or results in violence.
 The definition is sometimes
expanded to include any cyber
attack that intimidates or
generates fear in the target
population. Attackers often do
this by damaging or
disrupting critical
infrastructure.
 For example, ISIS targets
military websites, and
government websites for
spreading hate and
propaganda.

o For instance, Deep Fake and AI-generated voice is a rising
challenge as it has become easy to create and
superimpose faces and voices.
 Sophisticated Cyber Attacks: Cybercriminals are becoming
increasingly sophisticated, using advanced techniques such
as ransomware, zero-day exploits, and social engineering to
target individuals and organizations.
o A zero-day exploit is a cyberattack technique that takes
advantage of an unknown security flaw in computer software,
hardware or firmware.
 Cyber Warfare and State-sponsored Attacks: India faces the
threat of cyber espionage and state-sponsored cyber attacks
 increasing the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and sensitive
government information.
o For instance, the Malware(Dtrack) attack on Kudankulam
Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) in 2019. It is believed that
this malware has been created by a group called Lazarus
with links to North Korea.
 Lack of Cybersecurity Awareness: Many individuals and
businesses in India may not be fully aware of the risks and
preventive measures associated with cybersecurity which makes
them more susceptible to falling victim to cybercrimes.
 Inadequate Legal Framework: Although India has made efforts to
establish legal frameworks to address cybercrimes, there may still
be gaps and challenges in effectively enforcing these laws.
Also Read: What is Deepfake Technology? – Its Types, Impacts, and Security
Countermeasures
Cyber Crimes in India: Government Measures
 National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (Investigation): It has been
established in New Delhi to provide early-stage cyber forensic
assistance to Investigating Officers (IOs) of all State/UT Police
both through online and offline modes.‘CyTrain’ portal: Massive
Open Online Courses (MOOC) platform for capacity building of
all the stakeholders, police officers, judicial officers and
prosecutors through online courses on critical aspects of
cybercrime investigation, forensics, prosecution, etc. along with
certification.
 National Cyber Security Policy (NCSP): It aims to create a
secure cyberspace environment and strengthen the country’s
cybersecurity.
 Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): The I4C serves
as the nodal point for coordinating efforts to combat
cybercrime in India with a focus on enhancing the capabilities
of law enforcement agencies to prevent and investigate
cybercrimes.
 National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: It has been launched to
enable the public to report incidents about all types of cyber
crimes, with a special focus on cyber crimes against women and
children.
  National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre
(NCIIPC): NCIIPC is responsible for protecting critical
information infrastructure from cyber threats. It identifies critical
sectors and formulates policies and guidelines for securing them.
 Cyber Swachhta Kendra: This initiative focuses on the detection
and removal of malware-infected systems, thereby reducing the
impact of botnets.
 Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In): CERT-In is
the national agency responsible for responding to and
mitigating cybersecurity incidents. It issues alerts and advisories
to the public and private sectors to enhance cybersecurity
awareness.
 Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000: It is a comprehensive
legislation that addresses various aspects of electronic
governance, digital signatures, data protection, and penalties for
cybercrimes.
Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes
Global Conventions to Tackle
Cybercrime
 Interpol Cybercrime Global
Strategy 2022-2025: Reducing
the global impact of
cybercrime and protecting
communities for a safer world.
The strategy outlines
INTERPOL’s plan to support its
member countries in combating
cybercrime.
 Potential UN Cybercrime
Treaty: UN member states
have been negotiating
an international treaty on
countering cybercrime. If
adopted by the UN General
Assembly, it would be the first
binding UN instrument on a
cyber issue.
  Budapest Convention: The
treaty focused on harmonizing
laws and increasing
cooperation across borders so
that a range of cybercrime
could be prosecuted in the
multiple countries
affected. India decided not to
participate in this convention.
Way Forward to Prevent Cyber Crimes in India
 Implement Advanced Cybersecurity Framework: Cybersecurity
frameworks offer a range of best practices, policy processes,
security protocols, and other necessary tools to secure an
organization’s business operations.
o Investing in advanced cybersecurity technologies can help to
protect critical information systems and networks.
 Cyber Hygiene Practices: Encourage individuals and
organizations to adopt good cyber hygiene practices, such
as regular software updates, strong password management,
and secure online behavior.
 International Cooperation: Strengthen collaboration with
international organizations, law enforcement agencies, and other
countries to share threat intelligence, and best practices, and
coordinate efforts in investigating and prosecuting cross-border
cybercrimes.
o For instance, India and Japan have agreed to step up
cooperation to improve skills in securing cyberspace at
bilateral and multilateral levels.
 Public Awareness and Education: Conduct widespread
awareness campaigns to educate the public about common cyber
threats, safe online practices, and the importance of cybersecurity.
 Encourage the Adoption of Cyber Insurance: Cyber insurance
policies help cover the financial losses that result from cyber
events and incidents. In addition, cyber-risk coverage often helps
with the costs associated with remediation, including payment for
legal assistance, investigators, crisis communicators, and
customer credits or refunds.
Conclusion:
The growing trend of cyber crimes in India demands a
comprehensive approach, including advanced cybersecurity
measures, international cooperation, public awareness, and the
effective implementation of legal frameworks to ensure a secure
digital environment for individuals and organizations.
Mains Question: Examine the
concept of Deepfakes, and the potential risks
associated with their use. What are the
solutions to mitigate the threats posed by
deepfake technology? (250 words, 15 Marks)

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