Alarming Rise in India's Dowry Deaths: 14% Increase in Cases and Over 6,100 Lives Lost in 2023

In 2023, a significant rise of 14 percent was observed in dowry-related crime registrations across India, with over 15,000 cases documented and more than 6,100 fatalities reported, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

The NCRB's comprehensive 'Crime in India 2023' report reveals that 15,489 cases were registered under the Dowry Prohibition Act in 2023, marking an increase from 13,479 in 2022 and 13,568 in 2021.

Uttar Pradesh emerged as the state with the highest incidence, recording 7,151 cases, followed by Bihar with 3,665 and Karnataka with 2,322 cases.

It's noteworthy that thirteen states and Union Territories, including West Bengal, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and Sikkim, reported no dowry cases throughout the year.

The alarming death toll reached 6,156 lives lost in dowry-related deaths during 2023.

Uttar Pradesh again led with the highest number of fatalities at 2,122, while Bihar recorded 1,143 deaths. Across India, dowry was identified as the motive in 833 murder cases in 2023.

Under the Dowry Prohibition Act, a total of 83,327 cases were pending trial in 2023, with 69,434 carried forward from previous years.

The year also witnessed 27,154 arrests under the Act, comprising 22,316 men and 4,838 women.