India sees surge in convictions for SC/ST atrocities as case numbers climb

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale presented five‑year National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data on crimes under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, to the Rajya Sabha. The data cover 2020‑2024 and show a steady rise in registered cases, from 45,995 in 2020 to a peak of 53,372 in 2023 before falling to 48,669 in 2024. Convictions increased sharply, reaching a five‑year high of 5,192 cases in 2024, with the number of persons convicted more than doubling to 10,839 over the same period.

Chargesheeted persons peaked in 2023 at 90,664, while pending trials continued to grow, reaching 287,694 cases by the end of 2024. The statistics are intended to inform policy measures aimed at improving safety and security for Scheduled Caste and Tribe communities across India.