'Human Tragedy Of Global Proportions': India's POCSO Cases Rose 94% In 5 Years Amid Stronger Legal Action

Last Updated:October 16, 2025, 19:11 IST

The report by the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute also notes that despite the mounting volume of cases, the country’s prosecution rate remains above 90 per cent

While the staggering rise in numbers reflects the scale of the crisis, experts suggest it may also indicate improved public awareness and greater institutional capability for reporting. (Representational image)

India has witnessed an alarming 94 per cent increase in reported cases of sexual offences against children under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act between 2017 and 2022, according to the latest “Into the Light Index 2025" report by the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute. The annual reported incidents surged from 33,210 to 64,469 in the five years, a trajectory the report describes as a “human tragedy of global proportions."

While the staggering rise in numbers reflects the scale of the crisis, experts suggest it may also indicate improved public awareness and greater institutional capability for reporting. This is supported by the context of India’s robust legal response: the report notes that despite the mounting volume of cases, the country’s prosecution rate remains above 90 per cent. This high rate signals strengthened enforcement mechanisms and diligence by investigative agencies in filing chargesheets.

The proactive legal framework includes the establishment of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO Courts (e-POCSO), a centrally sponsored scheme implemented since 2019 to ensure the swift disposal of pending rape and POCSO cases. As of late 2024, hundreds of these FTSCs were functional across the country, having disposed of over 1.8 lakh POCSO cases, highlighting a dedicated effort to expedite justice.

However, the challenge of case pendency remains critical. Data shows that even with the efforts of FTSCs, the backlog of POCSO cases awaiting trial has continued to mount, demonstrating that the rate of new registrations is still outpacing the rate of judicial disposal. Furthermore, India’s transparency in crime data, which allows for effective monitoring, reveals that the country logged 2.25 million cases to global monitors for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) in a single year, highlighting the pervasive threat of technology-facilitated abuse.

The findings stress that while a higher reporting and prosecution rate is a positive indicator of the legal system’s commitment, the true battle lies in reducing the actual incidence of crime and clearing the substantial trial backlog to ensure timely justice for every child survivor.

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