The current decade in India is defined by a massive digital transition that has reshaped healthcare, commerce, and governance. However, this progress is shadowed by a systemic crisis in public administration, that is, the exponential rise of cybercrime. In 2025, data from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) indicated a 24% spike in cybercrime cases, with citizens losing approximately ₹22,495 crore. This paper argues that the cybersecurity crisis in India is fundamentally an administrative failure rather than a purely technological one. Despite reporting 28.15 lakh incidents in 2025, only 55,484 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered nationwide, revealing a staggering enforcement gap. Through an exhaustive analysis of official government reports, parliamentary committee findings, and state-level case studies from the 2024–2026 period, this study examines how India’s federal structure, forensic capacity deficits, and banking sector vulnerabilities leave citizens exposed. The analysis concludes that achieving a “Cyber-Surakshit Bharat” requires an integrated framework of administrative development, victim-centric performance metrics, and unified legislative reform through amendments to the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act and the Information Technology Act.
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Article DOI: 10.62823/IJEMMASSS/8.1(II).8679
