In a landmark development aimed at expediting justice for cybercrime victims, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah unveiled the e-Zero FIR initiative under the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C). This initiative, aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Cyber Secure Bharat‘, will significantly transform how cyber financial crimes are handled in the country.
Initially launched as a pilot project in Delhi, the e-Zero FIR system will automatically convert complaints involving financial losses above ₹10 lakh—filed either on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) or the helpline number 1930—into Zero FIRs. These FIRs will be instantly registered at Delhi’s e-Crime Police Station, regardless of the location of the complainant or the crime, and will later be routed to the appropriate jurisdictional cybercrime police station.
This tech-enabled mechanism is expected to accelerate investigation timelines, improve recovery chances for victims, and ensure faster punitive action against cybercriminals.
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Seamless Tech Integration with New Criminal Law Provisions
The e-Zero FIR system integrates three major digital platforms:
- I4C’s NCRP portal for cybercrime complaint registration,
- Delhi Police’s e-FIR system, and
- National Crime Records Bureau’s Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS).
This integration aligns with the newly introduced provisions under Section 173 (1) and 1(ii) of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), enabling electronic registration of FIRs regardless of jurisdiction—a groundbreaking reform in India’s criminal justice framework.
Once a Zero FIR is generated, the complainant has the option to visit their respective cyber police station within three days to get the FIR converted into a regular FIR, streamlining case ownership and further investigation.
The system will be closely monitored during the Delhi pilot phase, following which it will be scaled across States and Union Territories, offering nationwide coverage.
Empowering Victims, Strengthening Enforcement
The e-Zero FIR initiative responds to one of the most pressing challenges in India’s cybercrime ecosystem—delays in FIR registration and the subsequent recovery of stolen money. The Home Ministry acknowledges that despite NCRP and 1930 facilitating quick complaint submission, many victims struggle to get their complaints escalated into actionable cases.
By automating FIR registration for high-value cases, the system:
- Increases the FIR conversion rate,
- Enables quicker fund freezing and recovery,
- Facilitates real-time action by cybercrime units, and
- Improves tracking and prosecution of organized cyber fraud rings.
Shri Amit Shah emphasized that this initiative reflects the Modi government’s commitment to building a robust and responsive cybersecurity grid. As India embraces deeper digital integration, especially in finance and governance, this reform marks a critical step in making law enforcement systems cyber-resilient.
The Road Ahead: Toward a Cyber-Secure Bharat
With cybercrime cases escalating across the country, the e-Zero FIR project signals a policy shift that favors automation, victim empowerment, and jurisdictional fluidity. The initiative is expected to boost confidence in digital services and showcase India’s proactive stance in tackling technology-enabled crime.
As the pilot progresses in Delhi, stakeholders from other states are closely observing its outcomes. If successful, the system could set a global benchmark in how developing nations can leverage digital transformation for citizen-centric policing and build a truly ‘Cyber Secure Bharat’.