NEW DELHI: Delhi has recorded close to 2,000 rape cases a year in most years since 2014, with the city registering 26,582 cases between 2013 and 2025, according to Delhi Police data.The figures come as the Supreme Court expressed “anguish and deep concern” over the growing number of sexual assault cases involving women and girls in public places in the capital and drew a parallel with the 2012 Nirbhaya case.An analysis of Delhi Police data shows that rape cases rose sharply after 2013, from 1,636 cases that year to 2,166 in 2014. The annual figure remained above 2,000 for most of the following years, before dropping during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.
Cases rose after 2013, but the trend has reversed in the past two years
Delhi recorded 2,199 rape cases in 2015, followed by 2,155 in 2016, 2,146 in 2017, 2,135 in 2018 and 2,168 in 2019. The figure fell to 1,699 in 2020 before rising again to 2,076 in 2021.Cases subsequently increased to 2,084 in 2022 and peaked at 2,141 in 2023. However, the number declined to 2,076 in 2024 and further to 1,901 in 2025, the lowest annual figure since 2020.The figures also need to be read against changes in the legal and policing framework following the Nirbhaya case. The post-2012 legal changes strengthened provisions relating to crimes against women and made registration of FIRs mandatory in such offences. As a result, a rise in registered cases cannot by itself be read as a corresponding rise in the actual incidence of sexual violence.
In most cases, the accused is known to the survivor
Past Delhi Police studies have found that in around 90-95% of rape cases, the accused was known to the survivor, including relatives, friends and family acquaintances. Cases involving strangers accounted for a comparatively smaller share.Police also report a high detection rate. In 2025, 97.1% of rape cases were solved, according to Delhi Police data.
What experts say about the behaviour of perpetrators
Experts point to several factors that can influence sexual offending, including a belief among some perpetrators that they can exploit vulnerable victims, threaten them into silence or escape legal consequences.They have also flagged concerns over exposure to crime-related content and pornography potentially reinforcing distorted perceptions of consent and relationships. Experts have additionally discussed the influence of popular culture on attitudes towards relationships and sexual behaviour. These factors, however, do not provide a single explanation for sexual offences, and individual cases can have very different circumstances.
Conviction remains a concern
Data obtained through Right to Information applications from five Delhi district courts shows that 133 of 3,097 rape cases tried between 2021 and 2024 ended in conviction, a conviction rate of around 4.3%. The data does not include cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.In Saket and Rohini courts, complainants turned hostile in 194 of 792 rape cases tried during the same period. Only 38 of those cases ended in conviction.Under Delhi’s victim compensation framework, an adult rape survivor can receive Rs 4 lakh to Rs 7 lakh as final compensation if the case results in conviction, according to the RTI responses.
What Delhi Police is doing
Delhi Police has adopted a mix of prevention, awareness and community-policing measures to address sexual crimes.These include self-defence training for girls and women in schools, colleges, parks and public places, as well as awareness programmes conducted by women police officers on sexual crimes, personal safety, legal rights and reporting mechanisms.Police also conduct age-appropriate sessions for children on personal boundaries, safe and unsafe behaviour and responding to inappropriate touch. Awareness campaigns on stalking and harassment cover public places and public transport, including legal provisions and reporting mechanisms.The force has also set up women police stations and pink booths, besides using mobile-based services. Women beat constables conduct regular patrolling and community interaction as part of efforts to improve outreach and encourage reporting.The data, therefore, presents two parallel trends: Delhi continues to register a high number of rape cases every year, but the annual figure has fallen for the past two years. At the same time, the large gap between registered cases and convictions highlights the importance of examining not only how many cases are reported, but also how they progress through investigation and trial.
