- Minor girls' rape cases quadrupled in India over a decade.
- 97 per cent of the accused in these cases were known to the victims.
- Only a 30 per cent conviction rate, 86 per cent of cases pending in courts.
From Bihar’s Jamui and Samastipur to Banka, Delhi’s Kalkaji and Odisha’s Dhenkanal, a series of recent cases involving sexual violence against women and girls has once again brought the issue of safety into focus.
While individual incidents have triggered demands for strict action, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data points to a broader concern: rape cases involving girls below 18 have increased sharply over the past decade, even as the proportion of cases ending in convictions remains relatively low.
Rape Cases Involving Girls Quadruple In A Decade
The scale of the increase is evident from the NCRB figures. In 2015, police registered 10,934 rape cases involving girls below the age of 18. By 2024, the number had climbed to 43,675, nearly four times the figure recorded a decade earlier.
The data shows that sexual violence against minor girls continues to account for a substantial share of cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) framework.
Between 2020 and 2024, 1.83 lakh rape cases involving girls were registered across the country. During the same five-year period, 96,505 cases of sexual assault were recorded, along with 12,807 cases classified as sexual assault (molestation).
The NCRB data also recorded 2,924 cases involving the use of children for pornography and 3,034 cases under other sexual offence categories during the period.
Teenagers Account For Most Rape Cases
The data shows that older minor girls accounted for the largest share of reported rape cases between 2020 and 2024.
A total of 94,503 cases involved girls aged between 16 and 18 years, while 70,442 cases involved girls in the 12-16 age group.
Together, these two age groups accounted for the overwhelming majority of rape cases involving minor girls during the five years.
86 Per Cent Cases Pending In Courts
The rise in reported cases has also been accompanied by a high level of pendency in courts.
In 2024, the conviction rate in rape cases involving girls stood at around 30 per cent, while 86 per cent of cases remained pending before courts.
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The figures highlight the gap between cases being registered and their final disposal. Despite the availability of special mechanisms, including fast-track courts for POCSO cases, a large proportion of cases continued to remain unresolved in the judicial system.
Accused Often Known To The Victim
Another significant finding in the NCRB data concerns the relationship between victims and accused.
In 2024, the accused was known to the victim in 97 per cent of rape cases involving girls, according to the data.
The category includes people from the victim’s immediate or wider social circle. The data records cases involving acquaintances, relatives, neighbours and other known persons, as well as men who allegedly lured victims with promises of marriage.
The figures indicate that the threat faced by minor girls is not limited to unknown perpetrators and can also involve people already known to them or living within their surroundings.