Delhi recorded the highest number of cognisable offences among India’s 19 metropolitan cities in 2024, according to the latest “Crime in India 2024” report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
The national capital registered 2,75,402 cognisable offences during the year, making it the city with the largest number of serious crimes where police can arrest an accused without a warrant and begin investigations without prior approval from a magistrate.
Delhi’s Crime Rate Highest Among Metro Cities
The NCRB report revealed that Delhi’s crime rate stood at 1,688 cognisable offences per lakh population, the highest among all metropolitan cities in India.
The figures indicate an extremely high crime density in the capital city. According to the report, Delhi registered:
- Nearly five times more cases than Mumbai
- More than seven times the number recorded in Bengaluru
The NCRB considers cities with populations above 20 lakh as metropolitan cities.
Charge-Sheeting Rate Lowest in Delhi
- Despite recording the highest number of cases, Delhi reported the lowest charge-sheeting rate among all metro cities.
- The charge-sheeting rate in the capital stood at only 31.9%, indicating that charges were formally filed in less than one-third of the registered cognisable offences.
- The charge-sheeting rate is an important indicator of police investigation efficiency and reflects how frequently law enforcement agencies are able to complete investigations and initiate prosecution.
Decline in Cognisable Crimes in Delhi
Although Delhi topped the list in overall crime numbers, the NCRB data also showed a decline in cognisable offences over the past two years.
The city recorded:
- 2,98,988 cognisable offences in 2022
- 3,23,549 offences in 2023
- 2,75,402 offences in 2024
This reflects a decline of approximately 14.8% in such crimes during 2024 compared to the previous year.
What Are Cognisable Offences?
Cognisable offences are serious crimes in which police officers have the authority to:
- Arrest an accused person without a warrant
- Begin investigations without prior court approval
Examples generally include offences such as murder, robbery, kidnapping, rape, and serious assault.
About NCRB
- The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is India’s central agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs that collects, analyzes, and publishes nationwide crime statistics.
- Establishment: Founded in 1986, headquartered in New Delhi.
- Parent Ministry: Operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
NCRB’s Major Reports
- Crime in India – Annual nationwide crime statistics.
- Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI) – Data on unnatural deaths and suicides.
- Prison Statistics India – Information on prison population and conditions.
- Juvenile Justice Report – Crimes involving juveniles.
NCRB’s List of Metropolitan Cities
According to the NCRB report, the 19 metropolitan cities included in the analysis are:
- Ahmedabad
- Bengaluru
- Chennai
- Coimbatore
- Delhi
- Ghaziabad
- Hyderabad
- Indore
- Jaipur
- Kanpur
- Kochi
- Kolkata
- Kozhikode
- Lucknow
- Mumbai
- Nagpur
- Patna
- Pune
- Surat
Population Pressure and Urban Challenges
- The NCRB data uses Delhi’s population figure based on the 2011 Census, which estimated the population at approximately 1.63 crore.
- Experts believe the city’s population has increased significantly since then, placing additional pressure on policing, infrastructure, and urban governance.
- The report highlights the growing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in densely populated urban centres and underscores the importance of improving investigation efficiency and public safety systems.