UP’s Crime Rate Is Lower Than National Average, But Crimes Against Dalits Have Risen: NCRB 2023

Key takeaways

• Uttar Pradesh crime rate in 2023: 335.3 cases per lakh vs India’s 448.3 — about 25% lower.
• Crimes against Scheduled Castes (Dalits) in India in 2023: 57,789 cases; Uttar Pradesh tops with 15,130. That is up from 12,287 in 2022.
• Women’s crime rate in UP is also reported below the national average.

NCRB 2023 at a glance

The latest Crime in India 2023 data shows a national crime rate of 448.3 per lakh population. Uttar Pradesh posted 335.3, ranking better than many large states on this metric.

Uttar Pradesh vs national average

The Uttar Pradesh crime rate is significantly lower than India’s average. Media analyses based on NCRB tables place UP’s rate over one-fourth lower than the national figure.

The contradiction: Dalit safety trends

Here is where the story shifts. NCRB 2023 records 57,789 cases of crimes against SCs nationwide. UP accounts for 15,130, the highest among states. In 2022, UP had 12,287 such cases. That means an increase of ~23% year-on-year in UP for this category.

What that implies

Investors may hear that the Uttar Pradesh crime rate is below average. That is correct at the aggregate level. Yet reported crimes against Dalits have risen in UP from 2022 to 2023, both in absolute numbers and in UP’s share of the national total. This contrast explains why safety claims draw scrutiny from rights groups and the opposition.

Women’s safety snapshot

Independent coverage of NCRB 2023 notes that crimes against women by rate are lower in UP than the national average (e.g., 58.6 vs 66.2 per lakh female population). This supports the state’s overall “lower than India” pitch, while not addressing caste-based offences.

Why the metrics diverge

• Different denominators: Overall crime rate counts all IPC/SLL offences. “Crimes against SCs” is a focused category under specific heads and the SC/ST (PoA) Act. A low overall rate can coexist with a rise in caste-targeted crimes.
• Reporting effects: Campaigns, FIR facilitation, and special cells can lift registration without an immediate fall in incidents. But the year-on-year rise in UP’s SC cases is still notable.

For an investor pitch

• It is fair to cite the lower total crime rate.
• A balanced brief should acknowledge the rise in crimes against Dalits in 2023 and outline mitigation steps (fast-track courts, victim compensation, hotspot policing, and monitoring of PoA Act compliance). Transparency builds credibility.

Method & sources

• Overall crime rate (2023): UP 335.3 vs India 448.3 per lakh.
• Crimes against SCs (2023): India 57,789; UP 15,130 (highest).
• Crimes against SCs (2022): UP 12,287.
• Women’s crime rate comparison (2023): UP below national average.

Notes on recency

NCRB releases come with a lag. The 2023 dataset is the latest now widely reported and analyzed by national outlets. Figures above are drawn from those reports and government Q&A documents referencing NCRB series tables.

Bottom line

The Uttar Pradesh crime rate is lower than the national average on aggregate. Yet crimes against Dalits in UP increased from 2022 to 2023. Both facts are true. An honest narrative should present them together—with clear plans to reduce caste-based violence next.

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