What is Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks and Systems (CCTNS)?

About CCTNS

• The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) is a centralized online platform conceptualized under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Launched in 2009 with a budget of ₹2,000 crore, it is part of India’s National e-Governance Plan.
• It aims to establish a comprehensive and integrated system to enhance the efficiency and transparency of police operations at the police station level.
• Classified as a Mission Mode Project (MMP), the system provides law enforcement with tools for investigation, data analytics, policymaking, and delivering citizen-centric services.

Key Features of CCTNS

• Nationwide integration: It connects all 17,130 police stations across 28 states and 8 Union Territories. Recently achieved 100% deployment, including in remote areas like Manipur, Nagaland, and Lakshadweep.
• Comprehensive crime database: Stores records of accused persons, habitual offenders, proclaimed offenders, and crime-related data such as missing persons and stolen vehicles.
• Analytical tools: Generates crime statistics and detailed reports for analysis at the police station level.
• Citizen services: Enables tracking of complaints, verification requests, and case updates, making police processes more accessible.
• Enhanced scope: Integrated with the Integrated Criminal Justice System (ICJS), connecting police data with courts, prisons, prosecution, forensics, and fingerprint databases.

Key Modifications Under New Criminal Laws

CCTNS plays a pivotal role in implementing the new criminal laws introduced on July 1, 2024:

• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (replaces Indian Penal Code, 1860).
• Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (replaces Indian Evidence Act, 1872).
• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (replaces Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898).

Key updates include:

• Mandatory videography: Crime scene videography and forensic evidence collection in cases punishable by over seven years.
• Forensic investigations: Biological samples collected upon request of investigating officers.
• Arrest transparency:
  • Senior officer approval required for arrests in specific cases.
  • Arrest information communicated to relatives and displayed publicly.
• Case monitoring: Victims updated on investigation progress within 90 days.
• Digital reporting: Daily diaries sent to magistrates fortnightly.

About National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)

• Established: 1986, under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• Purpose: Acts as the central repository for crime and criminal data in India.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Responsible for:
  • Collecting and analyzing crime statistics.
  • Managing the Central Finger Print Bureau, which maintains a national database of fingerprints.
  • Publishing key reports like Crime in India, Accidental Deaths & Suicides, and Prison Statistics.
  • Providing technical support in areas like Digital Forensics and Network Security.

Q1: What is a First Information Report (FIR)?

A First Information Report (FIR) is a written document provided to a police officer under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). For the informant, the primary purpose of filing an FIR is to initiate the process of criminal law enforcement. For the police, it serves as a means to gather information about the alleged criminal activity and take the necessary actions to apprehend the perpetrator(s) and present them before a court.

News: All 17,130 police stations in the country linked through centralised online platform - The Hindu