Status of Policing in India Report (SPIR) 2026

Over the past decade, cybercrime has become part of everyday life in India -touching people's money, their data, and their sense of safety online. It doesn't stay confined to one place or one kind of victim: anyone with a phone, a bank account, or a social media profile is at risk. Traversing jurisdictions, affecting multiple institutions and communities, and evolving into a highly organised ecosystem, cybercrime networks have proliferated across India. 

In this context, the Status of Policing in India Report (SPIR) 2026: Cybercrime—Victim Perspectives and Systemic Responses turns its focus to cybercrime - how it is perpetrated, who it targets, and how citizens, the police and the banking system respond to it. Continuing the SPIR series' focus on public trust in and experience of the police, this edition examines the modus operandi of cybercriminals, the lived experience of victims, the digital habits and vulnerabilities of ordinary citizens, and the preparedness of the police and banks to handle complaints.

The latest edition of SPIR is jointly conducted by Common Cause and Lokniti-CSDS. This study draws on a survey across 16 Indian states with over 8,306 respondents, aiming to examine the rapidly changing nature of cybercrimes in India and the systems meant to respond to them. The qualitative component of the study is based on detailed one-on-one interviews and a focus group discussion, presenting findings from open-ended conversations with 37 respondents--domain experts, cybercrime victims and those who closely assisted them, and kin of individuals charged with cybercrime.

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Status of Policing in India Report (SPIR) 2026

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Executive Summary SPIR 2026 (हिन्दी)

Executive Summary SPIR 2026 (English)