The Prison Statistics India 2023 (PSI 2023) , published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) , offers the latest official snapshot of India’s prison system. Although the report covers data from 2023, it is being released only in 2025, reflecting a two-year lag in reporting. The report highlights persistent systemic issues: overcrowding, a majority of undertrial prisoners, and inadequate infrastructure, even as some marginal improvements have occurred since 2022.

As of 31 December 2023, India’s 1,332 jails held 5,30,333 inmates against an authorised capacity of 4,39,119, translating to an occupancy rate of 120.8%. While slightly lower than the 131.4% in 2022, overcrowding remains severe in major urban centres and key states. Delhi, for instance, reported an occupancy rate of 200

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