Crime against women with special reference to ‘Rape’ committed in India Prasad Gopal Ph. D Scholar, Department of Geography, Jamia Millia Islamia Central University, New Delhi Online published on 20 June, 2019. Abstract Crime is a result of negative effects that prevails in society (Mukhopadhyay, 1999). Both the incidence and pattern of crime vary from place to place (Duttet.al. 1985). Crimes which are directed specifically against women are characterised as Crimes against women. In this chapter, a special attention is given to ‘rape’ among all the crimes committed against women during 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011. During 1981 highest crime committed against women were kidnapping and abduction 18.12 per cent, in 1991 sexual harassment 35.96 per cent, in 2001 Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 78.32 per cent and in 2011 Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 67.26 per cent. Among all the crimes against women in India, rape recorded 9.75 per cent in 1981, 17.65 per cent in 1991, 28.97 per cent in 2001 and 43.63 per cent in 2011 representing a gradual increasing trend. It is analysed that among all the states in India, Madhya Pradesh recorded highest number of rape incidences in 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011, and it was followed by Uttar Pradesh in 1981 and 1991 and West Bengal in 2011. Sikkim recorded less number of rape incidences. Proportion of rape was maximum in 2011 recorded by Mizoram 7.1 and lowest by Gujarat 0.27 in 1981. Maximum percentage of rape was shared by Madhya Pradesh in 1991, 2001 and 2011 after overtaking Uttar Pradesh in 1981. Top Keywords Crime, Crime against women, Incidence of rape, Proportion of rape, Percentage share of rape. Top |