GD Topic - Crime Against Women in India: Who Bears the Responsibility?

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Senior Executive - Editorial

Updated on Nov 28, 2025 12:28 IST

Group Discussion plays a major role in the MBA Admissions. Candidates planning to take MBA entrance exams must prepare for the GD round too. Check out the article below for a discussion on Crime Against Women in India and who bears the responsibility for failure of proper law implementation.

Group Discussion plays a major role in MBA Admissions. Candidates planning to take MBA entrance exams must prepare for GD round too. Check this article for a discussion on Crime Against Women in India.

Group Discussion on Crime Against Women Safety in India - MBA is one of most chosen post-graduation courses among commerce as well as science students. To get admitted to course, students have to appear for one of entrance exams, including CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, and MAH MBA CET. Once the entrance exam is over, candidates have to take part in GD and Personal Interview (PI) round for admission to a Business School.

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Women’s Safety: A Growing Concern

According to National Crime Records Bureau or NCRB report for 2022, a total of 4,45,256 cases of crime against women were recorded, which is 4% more than previous year’s cases. It shows 51 incidents happen every hour in India, among which husband/relative cruelty, kidnappings, and assaults to outrage modesty were most common offenses.

According to NCRB, Rape, one of most heinous crimes, accounted for around 31,000 cases. Even though various legal reforms were made after watching public outrage over various high profile cases like 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape in Delhi and 2019 Hyderabad veterinarian’s murder, the persistence of such crimes shows a significant gap between laws and their implementation. The Kolkata case of 2024, where a doctor was brutally raped and murdered in a public hospital, shook the nation. These cases show issues faced by women in public places and in places they consider secure and professional.

We need more than just laws on paper to ensure a woman's safety. To address societal and cultural roots of gender based violence, we need active enforcement, unwavering accountability, and a deep commitment. We need to create an environment where women can live without fear of violence. They need to be supported by a justice system that acts swiftly and effectively. Until we work on these things, goal of a safe world for women will remain a challenge.

Table of contents

Statistics on Crime Against Women
Reasons Behind Lack of Women’s Safety in India
Special Laws for Women's Safety in India
Top Group Discussion (GD) Topics for MBA GD/PI

Statistics on Crime Against Women

The National Crime Records Bureau released annual crime report of 2022 on December 3, 2023. Find statistics for Crime Against Women dated 2020-2022 in below table as declared by NCRB on ncrb.gov.in.

The 2022 annual crime against women report by NCRB reveals a continuous rise in crimes across India. A total of 4,45,256 cases were registered in 2022, This is equal to 66.4% crime rate per lakh population. The crime trend shows an increase from 3,71,503 cases in 2020 to 4,28,278 cases in 2021, to 4,45,256 in 2022.

State/UT-Wise Crime Against Women

Among states, Uttar Pradesh reported highest number of crimes against women with 65,743 cases. Rajasthan recorded 45,058 cases and Maharashtra recorded 45,331 cases. In terms of crime rate per lakh population, Delhi tops the Union Territories (UTs) with a crime rate of 144.4 per lakh population. States like Mizoram and Nagaland report some of lowest figures.

Besides these huge crime rate figures, another matter that saddens us is 25% conviction rate. The conviction rate is a measure of percentage of criminal cases in which accused is found guilty, relative to total number of cases where a final judgment is delivered. It reflects efficiency of judicial system in securing convictions based on evidence and strength of investigations.

Reasons Behind Lack of Women’s Safety in India

Many laws and initiatives aim at improving a woman's safety in India. But, they still face crime due to multiple reasons.

1. The deeply ingrained patriarchal mindset is one of the major reasons that dominates many aspects of society. These people see women as subordinate to men. With this mindset, they justify gender-based harassment, violence, and exploitation. In many places, people still see women as second-class citizens and overlook or disregard their basic rights.

For example, the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape in Delhi exposed the brutality women face every day. It also highlighted the social mindset that undermines women's autonomy. Some members of the public and even media outlets attempted to blame the victim. They questioned her clothing and behavior, further reinforcing patriarchal ideas that hold women responsible for their victimization.

2. There are strong legal frameworks, such as Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act (2013) and post-Nirbhaya amendments in India. However, the judicial system of India is so slow, ineffective, and overburdened that it makes it impossible for women to feel safe.

The Kolkata doctor's rape and murder case in 2024 makes it evident that women are not safe even in professional places. Such cases indicate that, despite stringent laws, enforcement often falls short. Also, the slow investigation process and lengthy trials discourage women from reporting crimes.

3. Cultural and Social Stigma play a crucial role in preventing women from reporting crimes. Most of the time, victims of harassment or sexual violence are blamed for “bringing shame” to their families or society. Besides, in conservative communities, the victim’s honor is questioned by people around them. This inflicts fear among them, resulting in reluctance to report crimes.

For example, In rural areas, women who are victims of rape or domestic violence are often shunned by their communities. This discourages them from asking for help.

The #MeToo movement was a significant step forward. It revealed how women in the workplace, including well-known personalities, faced harassment. However, many remained silent due to fear of reputational damage and job loss.

4. The fear of retaliation and lack of trust in the law often prevent women from reporting crimes. Many victims feel that their complaints will not be taken seriously by law enforcement agencies or that the legal system will fail to provide them justice.

For example, in the Hyderabad veterinarian 2019 case, four men abducted and raped a woman. After that, they brutally murdered her and set her body on fire under a construction bridge. This case brought nationwide protests and demands for faster justice. The delay in taking action in such cases and the fear of delayed justice lead to many victims refraining from coming forward.

5. Ignorance of gender sensitive education and awareness among people is another reason behind the lack of women's safety. Schools, colleges, and workplaces often lack adequate programs that promote respect for women. They do not teach boys and men about consent, boundaries, and gender equality. It is impossible to reduce crimes against women without changing the mindset of future generations.

For example, incidents of eve-teasing, harassment, and assault continue to prevail in many urban areas. This is because of the lack of effective mandatory programs.

6. Many women, especially in rural areas, are economically dependent on their male partners. This limits their ability to escape abusive relationships or seek justice. Besides, women also get entangled in dangerous situations due to societal pressure.

Women in urban areas also refrain from getting legal help for an assault due to financial challenges. In the Hyderabad gang rape case, the victim lacked economic resources. This made it difficult for her to protect herself from the culprit.

7. Many regions of India lack the proper infrastructure for women’s safety. Urban areas are improving their infrastructure. For the safety of women, they are expanding the number of women police officers, setting up special helplines, and creating women-friendly police stations. However, many semi-urban and rural areas lack access to such resources.

In smaller cities, women are more likely to be attacked by someone due to inadequate public transportation and lighting in secluded areas. A classic example can be seen in the rise of public transport-related crimes. Women face harassment or assault in buses or trains, especially late at night, because there are no dedicated women-only spaces or sufficient security.

8. The portrayal of women in media and entertainment industry also contributes to the normalization of gender-based violence. Many films, TV shows, and advertisements portray women as mere objects of desire and treat violence against women very lightly. This distorts public perceptions of acceptable behavior and perpetuates harmful stereotypes.

Special Laws for Women's Safety in India

India has created various laws to guarantee women's empowerment, safety, and protection. Each law addresses different forms of discrimination and violence that a woman faces in public and private places.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005: This Act protects women from domestic violence, including physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse. Through this act, women can seek protection orders, residence orders, and monetary relief. It also enables women to file a complaint against the abusive partner or family member.
The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013: According to this law, every workplace must establish a mechanism to redress complaints related to sexual harassment. Employers must set up internal complaints committees. They must also provide a legal framework for women to report sexual harassment at work.
The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: This Act prohibits giving or receiving dowry during marriage. The acts make dowry a punishable offense. The basic aim of the Dowry Prohibition Act is to protect women from the violence and abuse associated with dowry demands.
The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006: According to this law, marrying girls under 18 and boys under 21 years of age is illegal. The act aims to protect the victims.
The National Commission for Women Act, 1990: The National Commission for Women (NCW) is created under this act. It aims to protect and promote women's rights in India. The NCW investigates complaints of violations and abuse against women. It also suggests measures for their welfare.
Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986: This act forbids indecent or offensive portrayal of women in advertisements, publications, or other media. The objective of this law is to stop women from being exploited through visual or written material that objectifies them. It also ensures that women are respectfully represented in public media.
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971: The act permits pregnancy termination under special situations. These include fetal abnormality cases, rape cases, or cases in which a woman's life is in danger.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012: This act addresses child protection from sexual offenses. It also covers cases where young girls are sexually assaulted.
Commission of Sati Act, 1987: The act prohibits Sati practice. It is an old-age practice where a widow burns herself on her husband's funeral pyre. They either do this willingly or are forced to burn themselves. It defines punishment for those involved, including the family members and religious leaders who promote or abet the act.

Also Read: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): Reforming Criminal Law for Better or Worse?

Top Group Discussion (GD) Topics for MBA GD/PI

Candidates preparing for the Group Discussion Rounds for admission in MBA at B-schools can check out the below GD topics:

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Nupur Jain