Prisons in India continue to be overcrowded by undertrials | Data
Despite a slight decrease in occupancy rates, Indian prisons remain significantly overcrowded, largely due to a high number of undertrial prisoners. A parliamentary report highlights that this overcrowding strains resources and limits access to essential rehabilitation and healthcare services.
Why it matters
The issue of prison overcrowding in India raises significant human rights and judicial reform concerns regarding the treatment of those awaiting trial.
While the latest Prison Statistics report released by the National Crime Records Bureau show that the occupancy rate in Indian jails fell to a decade-low of 112.7% in 2024, data shows that overcrowding remains a persisting problem in Indian prisons driven largely by a high share of undertrials. The report also highlighted other concerns such as insufficient capacity expansion and high levels of staff vacancies.
The article relies on official government data and parliamentary reports to present a balanced view of systemic issues.
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