ANNUAL STATISTICS

This is the ninth edition of the Death Penalty in India: Annual Statistics Report. This annual publication presents changes in the death row population as well as political and legal developments in the administration of the death penalty in India each year. The statistics are compiled through a combination of data mining of court websites, media monitoring and Right to Information applications.

Access the 2024 Report HERE

Previous reports are available as well: [2023] [2022] [2021] [2020] [2019] [2018] [2017] [2016].

Introduction

At the end of 2024, 564 prisoners were living under a sentence of death, which is the highest population on death row in a single calendar year in nearly two decades as per the records published by the National Crime Records Bureau. As of 31st December 2024, 139 new death sentences were imposed by trial courts across the country.

STATISTICS

Sessions Courts

Death sentences in 2023

120

Death sentences in 2024

139 High Courts

Prisoners (Cases)

Confirmations

Commutations

Acquittals

REMITTED

9 (9)

79 (53)

49 (24)

1 (1)

Supreme Court

Prisoners (Cases)

Confirmations

Commutations

Acquittals

REMITTED

0 (0)

6 (5)

1 (1)

0 (0)

developments in the law

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which replaces the Indian Penal Code, 1860, introduces new offences which are punishable with death. These offences include organised crime, terrorist act and murder committed by a life convict. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which replaces the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, has inserted provisions providing for processing mercy petitions filed by death row prisoners.

international developments

Zimbabwe abolished the death penalty, retaining its use only for the duration of public emergencies. Kenya commuted the death sentences of all prisoners on death row (2747) to life imprisonment.

The Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly approved a draft resolution titled ‘Moratorium on use of the death penalty’ on 13th November 2024, with 131 countries voting in favour of establishing a moratorium on executions and abolishing the death penalty. 36 countries voted against the resolution, including India, and 21 countries abstained from voting.