Speaking of safety in Indian metropolitan cities, figures paint a resounding picture. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has published its 2023 crime figures, which are not only eye-opening but also relevant to anyone residing or intending to reside in any of India’s major cities. Kolkata has been named the safest city in India, with the lowest number of cognisable offences per lakh population at 83.9 in the fourth consecutive year. This is a dramatic success compared to the national crime rate of 828 per lakh across 19 major cities surveyed by the bureau.
Knowing The NCRB Survey

The NCRB conducted this extensive survey in 19 cities in India with a population of more than 20 lakh. Surat, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Ghaziabad, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kochi, Nagpur, Patna, Pune, and Surat are the cities included in this significant study.
According to the report released by NCRB, Kolkata had the lowest rate of cognisable offences per lakh population at 83.9 in 2023. This is the lowest among the 19 Indian cities with populations above 20 lakh surveyed by the bureau. Such an impressive statistic shows that Kolkata is almost tenfold below the national metropolitan average.
Consistency Of Excellence In Safety In Kolkata

The fact that Kolkata has been steadily improving its safety record also contributes to its success. The Bureau reported a reduction in the crime rate in Kolkata over the last two years: 86.5 in 2022 and 103.5 in 2021. This declining trend shows that law enforcement and civic authorities have been putting in consistent efforts to make Kolkata the safest city in India.
List Of Top Safest And Unsafe Cities In India
| Rank | City | Crime Rate (Per Lakh Population) | Safety Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kolkata | 83.9 | Safest |
| 2 | Hyderabad | 332.3 | Very Safe |
| 3 | Pune | 337.1 | Very Safe |
| 4 | Mumbai | 355.4 | Safe |
| 5 | Coimbatore | 409.7 | Safe |
| 6 | Chennai | 419.8 | Safe |
| 7 | Kanpur | 449.1 | Moderately Safe |
| 8 | Ghaziabad | 482.6 | Moderately Safe |
| 9 | Bengaluru | 806.2 | Below Average |
| 10 | Ahmedabad | 839.3 | Border Category |
| 11 | Kozhikode | 886.4 | Unsafe |
| 12 | Nagpur | 962.2 | Unsafe |
| 13 | Lucknow | 1,015.9 | Unsafe |
| 14 | Indore | 1,111.0 | Very Unsafe |
| 15 | Patna | 1,149.5 | Very Unsafe |
| 16 | Jaipur | 1,276.8 | Very Unsafe |
| 17 | Surat | 1,377.1 | Highly Unsafe |
| 18 | Delhi | 2,105.3 | Highly Unsafe |
| 19 | Kochi | 3,192.4 | Most Unsafe |
Why Is This Data Important?
The figures given by NCRB are based on the police records submitted by states and union territories and thus show the reported and recorded cognisable offenses. This is a methodical presentation to compare crime in various cities. Analysts, however, say that such data are valuable in comparing trends; they rely on similar reporting and registration standards across jurisdictions. This implies that the real safety situation may change according to the level of efficiency in reporting and recording crimes in each city.
The Bottom Line

The issue of the safest city in India is one of the most important concerns for residents and potential migrants regarding the place to settle in India. Although the city of Kolkata has been doing well in terms of being the safest city, cities on the opposite end of the scale should enact better and more effective policing and safety practices. The NCRB statistics are a wake-up call to civic authorities to ensure that they are committed to the safety of citizens and strive to minimize the crime rates in their jurisdiction.
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