The Union Home Ministry has released Rs 133.53 crore in financial assistance under the Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) Scheme to States and Union Territories (UTs) up to March 31, 2024. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar presented this data in response to a question raised by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi.
The funds were allocated for cyber defence capacity building, including the establishment of cyber forensic-cum-training laboratories, the hiring of junior cyber consultants, and the training of law enforcement personnel, public prosecutors, and judicial officers.
Notably, ₹93.13 crore (69.74 per cent of the total fund) was allocated in 2017-18, while no funds were disbursed in 2018-19. In 2023-24, the total allocated funds stood at ₹10.69 crore.
The data indicates that most states received only a minimal amount after 2017-18, with some receiving no funds at all beyond that year, even though States/UTs are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes, including cybercrime.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has been established as an attached office under the Ministry of Home Affairs to tackle cybercrimes in a coordinated manner. As part of I4C, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal was launched to enable the public to report all types of cybercrime incidents, with a special focus on offences against women and children. Reported cases are handled by the respective States and UTs.
In recent years, a training curriculum has been developed for law enforcement personnel, public prosecutors, and judicial officers to enhance their ability to investigate and prosecute cybercrimes. According to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, over 24,600 individuals have received training under the CCPWC Scheme.
Despite these initiatives, concerns persist about whether the existing framework is sufficient to combat the rapidly evolving landscape of cybercrimes, particularly those targeting women and children. Notably, many of these crimes involve inter-state and international networks, complicating enforcement efforts.
In February 2019, the Union government approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United States. Subsequently, an MoU was signed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), USA, to receive reports on online child pornography and child sexual exploitation. So far, states and UTs have received 69 lakh Cyber Tipline reports, highlighting the scale of the problem.
To strengthen cyber forensic capabilities, the Union government, in the recent years, has established The National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (Evidence) in Hyderabad, which supports forensic investigations, ensures evidence preservation, and reduces turnaround time and the National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (Investigation) in New Delhi, which provides early-stage cyber forensic assistance to investigating officers from State/UT police. The Delhi lab has already assisted in approximately 11,835 cases.
In September 2024, the government set up a Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) to facilitate cooperation between banks, financial intermediaries, telecom service providers, IT firms, and law enforcement agencies for real-time action against cyber fraud.
Additionally, Seven Joint Cyber Coordination Teams (JCCTs) have been formed in cybercrime hotspots to enhance coordination among State/UT law enforcement agencies, particularly in cases involving multiple jurisdictions. Up to February 2024, the Union government has blocked more than 3.2 lakhs SIM cards and 49,000 IMEIs related to cyber frauds and crimes.