The NCRB numbers challenge Akhilesh’s crime narrative

Akhilesh Yadav has repeatedly questioned the state of policing in Uttar Pradesh. He refuses to accept that law and order in the state has improved significantly compared with the past. In the process, he appears determined to dismiss or downplay the official figures released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). This approach is unbecoming of a former chief minister. In India's democratic system, institutions perform their mandated roles, and senior political leaders are expected to respect them. Selectively accepting or rejecting institutional data based on political convenience runs counter to the spirit of democracy.

Clear improvement in crime rates

The NCRB's Crime in India 2024 report presents unambiguous numbers. The national average crime rate under BNS/IPC cases stood at 252.3 per lakh population. Uttar Pradesh recorded a substantially lower rate of 180.2-nearly 28.5 per cent below the national average. Given that the state accounts for roughly 17 per cent of India's population, a higher absolute number of cases is only to be expected. The meaningful metric for comparison remains the crime rate per lakh population. On that basis, Uttar Pradesh ranked 18th among all states and Union territories. This ranking reflects a tangible improvement in the law-and-order situation.

In 2024, a total of 35,44,608 cognisable crimes were registered across the country. Uttar Pradesh accounted for 4,30,552 of them. Relative to its population share, this figure is proportionate and lower than expected. The state's murder rate stood at 1.3 per lakh population against the national average of 1.9, placing it 29th in the country. Rates for dacoity, robbery and kidnapping for ransom were also well below the national averages. These are not abstract statistics; they reflect ground realities.

Stronger police performance on chargesheets

Registering cases is only one part of the picture. A key measure of police efficiency is the chargesheeting rate. Uttar Pradesh Police achieved a chargesheeting rate of 76.7 per cent, higher than the national average of 75.6 per cent. This indicates that investigators are completing inquiries and taking cases to court at a better rate than the national norm. The chargesheeting rate in crimes against women has also remained robust.

Highest conviction rate in crimes against women

The most striking figure concerns convictions in cases of crimes against women. According to the NCRB 2024 report, Uttar Pradesh recorded a conviction rate of 76.6 per cent-the highest among major states. Of the thousands of cases that reached completion in the courts, the majority ended in conviction. This outcome is the result of sustained zero-tolerance policing, Anti-Romeo squads, dedicated women's help desks at police stations, fast-track courts and a strengthened prosecution system.

The rate of crimes against women itself remained below the national average. In 2024, it stood at 58 per lakh female population. The rape rate was 2.8, compared with the national average of 4.3. The data show not only better control over crime but also greater success in securing punishment for offenders.

Institutions deserve respect, not political rejection

When a leader of Akhilesh Yadav's stature continues to attack the policing system while ignoring or rejecting NCRB data, it undermines democratic norms. The NCRB is a central government agency that compiles figures supplied by the states. No data set is perfect, but dismissing official statistics for political reasons is neither constructive nor responsible. As a former chief minister, he should respect institutional findings. If he disagrees with the numbers, the proper response is to present alternative credible evidence or rigorous analysis-not blanket denial.

The Yogi government's zero-tolerance approach towards crime, decisive action against organised mafias, modernisation of the police force, expanded CCTV networks, the UP-112 emergency response system, and focused measures for women's safety have together produced measurable results. The downward trend in crime rates has continued over successive years. Even in the 2023 data, Uttar Pradesh remained well below the national average.

The numbers speak for themselves

The NCRB figures clearly endorse the improvement in Uttar Pradesh's law-and-order situation under the Yogi government. A lower overall crime rate, a stronger chargesheeting performance, and the country's highest conviction rate in crimes against women among major states together present a coherent and positive picture. Achieving this in India's most populous state was never going to be easy. Opposition parties have every right-and indeed a duty-to raise questions. Those questions, however, must be grounded in facts. Rejecting institutional data does not strengthen democracy or public trust. The evidence shows that law and order in Uttar Pradesh is better than it was. Accepting that reality and building on it is the more democratic course. Political rhetoric is no substitute for respect for facts.

The writer is a former Director General of the Uttar Pradesh Police and is currently the Chancellor of Noida International University; Views presented are personal.