New Delhi: The Government of India has reiterated that police and public order fall under the State List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, placing the primary responsibility of maintaining law and order and protecting life and property, including that of women and children, with State Governments and Union Territory administrations. At the same time, the Centre has underlined its strong commitment to preventing and controlling crimes against women and children through sustained legal, administrative, financial and technological interventions.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has extended financial assistance to all States and Union Territories for establishing Women Help Desks in every police station, aimed at making police stations more accessible, responsive and women friendly. To ensure swift emergency response, a pan India Emergency Response Support System based on the internationally recognised number 112 has been rolled out with computer aided dispatch of field resources to the location of distress.
To strengthen urban safety, Safe City Projects are being implemented in eight major cities including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai, focusing on technology led surveillance and smart policing solutions. In addition, the National Database on Sexual Offenders has been launched to aid law enforcement agencies in investigation and tracking of sexual offenders across the country.
For monitoring investigation timelines in sexual offence cases, the Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences has been introduced in line with the Criminal Law Amendment Act 2018. The Centre has also taken steps to enhance forensic capabilities by strengthening DNA analysis units in central and state forensic science laboratories, including the establishment of a state of the art DNA analysis unit at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Chandigarh, with support under the Nirbhaya Fund.
Guidelines for collection of forensic evidence and standard kits for sexual assault cases have been notified to ensure scientific and uniform procedures. Capacity building remains a key focus, with over thirty five thousand investigation officers, prosecutors and medical officers trained so far by national institutions, along with the distribution of more than eighteen thousand sexual assault evidence collection kits.
Major legal reforms have been implemented through the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, effective from July 1, 2024. Under the new criminal laws, offences against women and children have been given top priority and consolidated as the first substantive chapter. New offences, including sexual intercourse on false promise of marriage or employment and engaging children to commit crimes, have been introduced, along with stricter punishments for gangrape and child trafficking.
The laws mandate audio video recording of victims’ statements in rape cases, prefer recording by women magistrates and require medical reports to be submitted within seven days. Free first aid and medical treatment for victims of crimes against women and children at all hospitals has also been ensured.
The Centre has released two hundred crore rupees under the Central Victim Compensation Fund to strengthen victim compensation schemes across States and Union Territories. Fast Track Special Courts, including exclusive POCSO courts, have been established to ensure time bound trials, with over seven hundred courts currently functional and more than three and a half lakh cases disposed of till September 2025.
Support services for victims have been expanded through One Stop Centres, with eight hundred sixty four centres operational nationwide assisting over twelve lakh women so far. Women Helpline 181 is functional across most States and Union Territories, while Child Helpline 1098 and railway childlines provide round the clock support to missing and needy children. Schemes under Mission Shakti, including Shakti Sadan, focus on relief and rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances.
The Government has also intensified awareness efforts through institutions like the National Commission for Women, using multiple media platforms to educate citizens about safety, rights and legal provisions. Recently, the Mission Shakti Portal was launched to improve access to services, rescue, protection and rehabilitation mechanisms for women.
This information was shared by Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, outlining the combined role of States and the Centre in ensuring safety, justice and dignity for women and children across the country.
