The Union government informed the Lok Sabha on December 3, 2024, that the rise in cases registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is attributed to growing awareness, wider publicity, and enhanced police training. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows a significant rise in such cases, with over 67,000 recorded in 2022, the highest since 2013. The government is taking steps to reduce discrimination against Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).

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• Union government links rise in SC/ST Act cases to growing awareness and better police training.
• Over 67,000 cases under the SC/ST Act were registered in 2022, the highest since 2013.
• NCRB data shows 57,582 cases related to SC communities and 10,064 cases related to ST communities.
• Social Justice Minister Virendra Kumar presented data in response to MP Alok Kumar Suman’s query.
• Government taking measures to implement laws protecting SCs/STs against discrimination.
• No central data available on discrimination in educational institutions like IITs and AIIMS.
• Government has set up SC/ST cells and equal opportunity cells in Central Universities to reduce discrimination.
• Protection of Civil Rights Act (1955) and SC/ST Act (1989) protect SC/ST communities from discrimination.
• A National Helpline Against Atrocities and centrally sponsored schemes are in place to enforce these laws.
• National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes safeguards their social, educational, and economic rights.