Over the past 5 years, cybercriminals in India stole ₹828 Cr. This is an unwanted face of Digital India even as other problems such as the Digital Divide between rich and poor and among genders, low computer literacy, and the persistent recourse to internet shutdowns continues to impede internet access.

In FY 2016-17, the amount stolen or obtained fraudulently by cybercriminals was ₹45.5 crore which jumped to ₹200.22 crore in 2020-21. Similarly, in 2016-17 there were 3,223 cases registered which also spiked up to 69,410 cases in 2020. While this may indicate increased reporting and awareness of these crimes, the fact remains that internet and digital services users continue to remain vulnerable to fraud, theft, and loss of essential and hard-earned money. 

Also WATCH | Net Connectivity Suffers In Uttar Pradesh, But Cybercrime Thrives! 

The latest rise in data and calling tarrifs by major telecom providers will also impact the reach and percolation of the internet to many people in the country, and this report by GoNews shows that phone ownership as a whole is coming down.