Only a small fraction of cybercrime complaints registered across India are being converted into FIRs, exposing a widening gap between reporting and legal action even as digital crime complaints continue to rise sharply across the country.
Official data reviewed in the report shows that complaints on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal have climbed to nearly 30 lakh annually, while the rate of FIR registration has remained critically low. The gap has raised fresh concerns about enforcement, deterrence and the broader delivery of justice in cybercrime cases.
Complaints Surge but FIR Conversion Lags
Cybercrime complaints grew nearly six-fold between 2021 and 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of around 58 per cent. Yet FIR registrations did not keep pace. In 2021, around 2.5 per cent of complaints were converted into FIRs. In 2024, the figure rose to 2.9 per cent, before dropping to 1.4 per cent in 2025 on a provisional basis.
As of December 31, 2025, the national average stood at about 2.22 per cent. Officials indicated that the 2025 figure may rise slightly after pending verifications are completed, but not enough to close the larger gap between complaint volumes and formal police action.
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Centre Urges States to Improve Ground Response
Describing the situation as serious, the Centre has asked states to urgently improve FIR conversion rates and strengthen on-ground response systems. One of the key recommendations is the rollout of the e-Zero FIR system, which would allow victims to file FIRs digitally without jurisdictional delays.
The proposed mechanism is seen as especially important in cyber fraud cases involving amounts above Rs 10 lakh, where speed can be critical. The push reflects concern that delays in converting complaints into formal cases may weaken the response to fast-moving digital offences.
Helpline Load Reflects Scale of the Crisis
The pressure is also visible in the operation of India’s cybercrime helpline 1930, which handled 3.24 crore calls in 2025 alone. That works out to almost one call every second, underlining the scale of distress and demand for assistance.
On average, 88,976 calls were handled daily in 2025, compared with 26,411 in 2023, marking more than a threefold rise in two years. The figures point to a system under mounting strain, with complaint volumes rising rapidly while formal legal conversion continues to lag.
