In a disturbing trend, nine out of every 10 cybercrimes against children in India involve publishing or transmitting sexually explicit material, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2024. The NCRB report reveals a sharp rise in crimes against children even as overall crime numbers in the country have declined. A total of 1,87,702 cases of crimes against children were registered across India in 2024, marking a 5.8 per cent increase from 1,77,335 cases in 2023. Over the past four years, crimes against children have surged by more than 46 per cent — from 1,28,531 cases in 2020 to 1,87,702 cases in 2024. In contrast, overall crimes in India dropped by nearly 10.8 per cent during the same period. Cybercrimes against children Out of the total crimes against children in 2024, as many as 1,238 cases were registered under the Information Technology Act as cybercrimes. Of these, a staggering 1,099 cases — nearly 89 per cent — involved publishing or transmitting material showing children in sexually explicit acts. All other forms …