- The document is the response from the Minister of Home Affairs to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha regarding the number of Dalits, Muslims, and other groups in Indian prisons. - Data from the National Crime Records Bureau shows that as of December 31, 2019, the majority of prisoners in some states are from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, or Muslim communities, though data is not available for all states. - Over 66% of prisoners across states are illiterate or have only studied up to 10th standard. While rehabilitation is under state control, the central government has issued guidelines and advisories on rehabilitation and education programs in prisons.

1. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1014
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10th
FEBRUARY, 2021/ 21 MAGHA, 1942 (SAKA)
DALITS AND MUSLIMS IN INDIAN JAILS
1014. SHRI SYED NASIR HUSSAIN:
Will the Minister of Home Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that majority of prisoners in Indian jails are Dalits
and Muslims;
(b) if so, the reasons behind putting more people from backward and
minority communities in jails;
(c) what is the gender breakup among the total prisoners from
SC/ST/OBC/Muslim backgrounds, State-wise;
(d) whether it is also a fact that more than 66 per cent of all prisoners are
illiterate or have studied only upto 10th standard; and
(e) if so, why Government is not taking more steps to rehabilitate and
educate these people rather than keeping them locked away in prison?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a) to (c): National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles prison
statistics reported to it by States and Union Territories (UTs) and
publishes the same in its annual report “Prison Statistics India”. The latest
published report is of the year 2019. State/UT-wise, gender-wise and caste-
wise details of prison inmates as on 31.12.2019 are given in Annexure-I.
State/UT-wise, gender-wise and religion-wise details of prison inmates as
on 31.12.2019 are given in Annexure-II.

2. -2-
R.S.US.Q NO. 1014 FOR 10.02.2021
(d): State/UT-wise details of education of prison inmates as on 31.12.2019
are given in Annexure-III.
(e) : ‘Prisons’ and ‘persons detained therein’ are ‘State’ subjects as per
Entry 4 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.
Administration and management of prisons and prison inmates is the
responsibility of respective State Governments who are responsible for
rehabilitation and education of inmates. However, to supplement the
efforts of States in this regard, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had
circulated a Model Prison Manual to all States and Union Territories in May
2016, which has dedicated chapters on rehabilitation and education of
prison inmates such as ‘Education of Prisoners’, ‘Vocational training and
skill development programmes’, ‘Welfare of Prisoners’, ‘After-Care and
Rehabilitation’ etc. MHA has also issued various advisories to the
States/UTs for rehabilitation of inmates and providing them educational
facilities. These advisories are available on the website of MHA. Details of
inmates benefitted by education facilities in prison during the year 2019
are given in Annexure- IV.

3. ANNEXURE-I
R.S.US.Q NO. 1014 FOR 10.02.2021
State/UT-wise, gender-wise and caste-wise details of prison inmates as on 31st
December, 2019
S.No. STATE/UT
SC ST OBC Others Total Inmates
Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total
1 ANDHRA PRADESH 1483 141 1624 1021 81 1102 3155 137 3292 1454 107 1561 7113 466 7579
2
ARUNACHAL
PRADESH
0 0 0 114 6 120 0 0 0 125 2 127 239 8 247
3 ASSAM 1518 49 1567 1900 63 1963 2339 71 2410 3162 124 3286 8919 307 9226
4 BIHAR 7873 342 8215 1547 67 1614 19634 711 20345 9436 204 9640 38490 1324 39814
5 CHHATTISGARH 2898 228 3126 6151 230 6381 5651 328 5979 2529 97 2626 17229 883 18112
6 GOA 65 12 77 57 4 61 110 6 116 252 12 264 484 34 518
7 GUJARAT 2303 77 2380 2261 95 2356 6646 262 6908 3316 129 3445 14526 563 15089
8 HARYANA 4927 176 5103 309 9 318 5449 141 5590 9096 316 9412 19781 642 20423
9 HIMACHAL PRADESH 533 29 562 186 7 193 291 4 295 1276 47 1323 2286 87 2373
10 JAMMU & KASHMIR @ 183 19 202 257 16 273 75 0 75 3048 91 3139 3563 126 3689
11 JHARKHAND 2891 123 3014 5067 255 5322 6962 341 7303 2921 94 3015 17841 813 18654
12 KARNATAKA 3123 129 3252 1549 66 1615 6854 305 7159 2378 111 2489 13904 611 14515
13 KERALA 1371 31 1402 355 13 368 3842 102 3944 1758 27 1785 7326 173 7499
14 MADHYA PRADESH 9565 397 9962 10812 417 11229 14647 628 15275 7821 316 8137 42845 1758 44603
15 MAHARASHTRA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 35229 1569 36798
16 MANIPUR 17 0 17 205 19 224 561 10 571 39 25 64 822 54 876
17 MEGHALAYA 100 4 104 740 23 763 30 0 30 124 2 126 994 29 1023
18 MIZORAM 38 0 38 1450 189 1639 20 0 20 1 0 1 1509 189 1698
19 NAGALAND 86 1 87 331 3 334 1 0 1 24 0 24 442 4 446
20 ODISHA 5044 164 5208 4704 166 4870 4052 161 4213 3176 96 3272 16976 587 17563
21 PUNJAB 9029 588 9617 278 0 278 4714 218 4932 8909 438 9347 22930 1244 24174
22 RAJASTHAN 4607 147 4754 3828 127 3955 8664 217 8881 3911 98 4009 21010 589 21599
23 SIKKIM 57 1 58 98 3 101 201 6 207 32 2 34 388 12 400
24 TAMIL NADU 3554 228 3782 319 19 338 9809 414 10223 282 82 364 13964 743 14707
25 TELANGANA 1236 86 1322 802 74 876 2240 181 2421 1994 104 2098 6272 445 6717
26 TRIPURA 202 12 214 248 3 251 259 9 268 349 21 370 1058 45 1103
27 UTTAR PRADESH 23094 1056 24150 4578 219 4797 41318 1870 43188 28133 1029 29162 97123 4174 101297
28 UTTARAKHAND 1266 65 1331 461 43 504 1344 38 1382 2296 116 2412 5367 262 5629
29 WEST BENGAL# 3084 238 3322 1141 42 1183 2309 107 2416 15079 1092 16171 21613 1479 23092
30 A & N ISLANDS 0 0 0 6 0 6 40 2 42 191 5 196 237 7 244
31 CHANDIGARH 340 24 364 1 0 1 202 5 207 392 20 412 935 49 984
32 D & N HAVELI * 3 0 3 12 0 12 7 0 7 24 0 24 46 0 46
33 DAMAN & DIU * 9 0 9 10 0 10 14 1 15 24 4 28 57 5 62
34 DELHI 4238 99 4337 252 22 274 4818 83 4901 7597 425 8022 16905 629 17534
35 LAKSHADWEEP 0 0 0 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4
36 PUDUCHERRY 69 1 70 1 0 1 182 2 184 8 0 8 260 3 263
TOTAL (ALL INDIA) 94806 4467 99273 51055 2281 53336 156440 6360 162800 121157 5236 126393 458687 19913 478600
@ Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are now Union Territories. This is consolidated data of both UTs - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
* D&N Haveli and Daman & Diu have since been merged into one UT.
# Due to non-receipt of data from West Bengal for the year 2018 & 2019, data furnished for 2017 has been used.
NA- Data not available.

4. ANNEXURE-II
R.S.US.Q NO. 1014 FOR 10.02.2021
State/UT-wise, gender-wise and religion-wise details of prison inmates as on 31st
December, 2019
S.No. STATE/UT
Hindu Muslim Sikh Christian Others Total Inmates
Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total
1 ANDHRA PRADESH 6029 384 6413 725 32 757 1 0 1 262 31 293 96 19 115 7113 466 7579
2
ARUNACHAL
PRADESH
93 1 94 17 1 18 0 0 0 76 3 79 53 3 56 239 8 247
3 ASSAM 4196 134 4330 3971 159 4130 112 0 112 468 14 482 172 0 172 8919 307 9226
4 BIHAR 32298 1090 33388 6042 220 6262 90 0 90 19 0 19 41 14 55 38490 1324 39814
5 CHHATTISGARH 15797 837 16634 732 29 761 142 2 144 460 13 473 98 2 100 17229 883 18112
6 GOA 378 20 398 38 9 47 0 0 0 68 5 73 0 0 0 484 34 518
7 GUJARAT 10120 462 10582 4022 95 4117 214 0 214 123 6 129 47 0 47 14526 563 15089
8 HARYANA 16719 538 17257 1822 39 1861 1168 61 1229 45 4 49 27 0 27 19781 642 20423
9 HIMACHAL PRADESH 2018 77 2095 132 5 137 86 3 89 41 1 42 9 1 10 2286 87 2373
10 JAMMU & KASHMIR @ 1097 54 1151 2244 68 2312 185 3 188 25 0 25 12 1 13 3563 126 3689
11 JHARKHAND 13072 637 13709 3038 83 3121 78 2 80 1138 56 1194 515 35 550 17841 813 18654
12 KARNATAKA 10580 510 11090 2538 77 2615 46 0 46 435 17 452 305 7 312 13904 611 14515
13 KERALA 3793 108 3901 2163 36 2199 0 0 0 1349 29 1378 21 0 21 7326 173 7499
14 MADHYA PRADESH 37464 1513 38977 4801 212 5013 399 11 410 90 6 96 91 16 107 42845 1758 44603
15 MAHARASHTRA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 35229 1569 36798
16 MANIPUR 460 20 480 139 10 149 1 0 1 211 19 230 11 5 16 822 54 876
17 MEGHALAYA 184 4 188 84 2 86 2 0 2 721 23 744 3 0 3 994 29 1023
18 MIZORAM 15 0 15 31 0 31 0 0 0 1451 189 1640 12 0 12 1509 189 1698
19 NAGALAND 74 1 75 28 0 28 0 0 0 340 3 343 0 0 0 442 4 446
20 ODISHA 14954 536 15490 881 19 900 19 3 22 1037 27 1064 85 2 87 16976 587 17563
21 PUNJAB 7352 408 7760 905 42 947 12227 551 12778 1656 118 1774 790 125 915 22930 1244 24174
22 RAJASTHAN 15954 489 16443 3779 69 3848 1113 21 1134 44 3 47 120 7 127 21010 589 21599
23 SIKKIM 253 4 257 10 0 10 0 0 0 85 7 92 40 1 41 388 12 400
24 TAMIL NADU 10849 646 11495 1579 38 1617 0 1 1 1536 58 1594 0 0 0 13964 743 14707
25 TELANGANA 3957 255 4212 1681 98 1779 29 0 29 532 87 619 73 5 78 6272 445 6717
26 TRIPURA 751 32 783 193 12 205 0 0 0 64 1 65 50 0 50 1058 45 1103
27 UTTAR PRADESH 69279 3233 72512 26555 904 27459 612 18 630 130 4 134 547 15 562 97123 4174 101297
28 UTTARAKHAND 3378 172 3550 1569 72 1641 355 17 372 55 1 56 10 0 10 5367 262 5629
29 WEST BENGAL# 13471 734 14205 7968 744 8712 38 0 38 105 1 106 31 0 31 21613 1479 23092
30 A & N ISLANDS 153 4 157 14 1 15 2 0 2 38 2 40 30 0 30 237 7 244
31 CHANDIGARH 803 47 850 63 0 63 57 2 59 12 0 12 0 0 0 935 49 984
32 D & N HAVELI * 40 0 40 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 46 0 46
33 DAMAN & DIU * 43 4 47 14 0 14 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 57 5 62
34 DELHI 11887 460 12347 4344 85 4429 304 26 330 363 55 418 7 3 10 16905 629 17534
35 LAKSHADWEEP 0 0 0 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4
36 PUDUCHERRY 228 2 230 13 1 14 0 0 0 19 0 19 0 0 0 260 3 263
TOTAL (ALL INDIA) 307739 13416 321155 82145 3162 85307 17280 721 18001 12998 784 13782 3296 261 3557 458687 19913 478600
@ Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are now Union Territories. This is consolidated data of both UTs - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
* D&N Haveli and Daman & Diu have since been merged into one UT.
# Due to non-receipt of data from West Bengal for the year 2018 & 2019, data furnished for 2017 has been used
NA- Data not available.

5. ANNEXURE-III
R.S.US.Q NO. 1014 FOR 10.02.2021
State/UT-wise details of education of prison inmates as on 31st
December, 2019.
S.No. STATE/UT Illiterate
Below
Class X
Class X &
above but
below
graduation
Graduate
Post-
Graduate
Holding
Tech.
Degree /
Diploma
etc.
Total
Inmates
1 ANDHRA PRADESH 2423 3249 1120 443 135 209 7579
2 ARUNACHAL PRADESH 51 122 66 7 1 0 247
3 ASSAM 3440 3918 1502 316 27 23 9226
4 BIHAR 12023 15991 9212 2185 242 161 39814
5 CHHATTISGARH 3729 10546 2714 769 274 80 18112
6 GOA 196 149 157 11 2 3 518
7 GUJARAT 3901 7611 2326 751 328 172 15089
8 HARYANA 3312 8192 7369 1150 228 172 20423
9 HIMACHAL PRADESH 311 1105 779 121 25 32 2373
10 JAMMU & KASHMIR @ 870 1301 1249 176 82 11 3689
11 JHARKHAND 4321 8601 4492 799 166 275 18654
12 KARNATAKA 3332 5887 3399 1207 168 522 14515
13 KERALA 2866 2661 1429 299 50 194 7499
14 MADHYA PRADESH 11238 20552 8698 2723 949 443 44603
15 MAHARASHTRA 6560 17534 8613 2733 752 606 36798
16 MANIPUR 46 547 216 58 9 0 876
17 MEGHALAYA 439 461 96 22 3 2 1023
18 MIZORAM 60 1330 266 27 15 0 1698
19 NAGALAND 108 245 75 18 0 0 446
20 ODISHA 4921 8836 2866 775 65 100 17563
21 PUNJAB 6306 9417 6627 1377 237 210 24174
22 RAJASTHAN 5522 8512 4503 1968 688 406 21599
23 SIKKIM 41 281 72 6 0 0 400
24 TAMIL NADU 4353 5286 2955 1278 195 640 14707
25 TELANGANA 1692 2503 1330 695 227 270 6717
26 TRIPURA 91 829 131 46 4 2 1103
27 UTTAR PRADESH 31927 36390 21269 8151 2635 925 101297
28 UTTARAKHAND 1431 2442 1207 337 191 21 5629
29 WEST BENGAL# 13109 6576 2752 581 63 11 23092
30 A & N ISLANDS 32 151 51 8 1 1 244
31 CHANDIGARH 191 383 293 80 21 16 984
32 D & N HAVELI * 5 25 10 3 1 2 46
33 DAMAN & DIU * 35 7 13 7 0 0 62
34 DELHI 3831 7121 5086 1060 297 139 17534
35 LAKSHADWEEP 0 1 3 0 0 0 4
36 PUDUCHERRY 16 110 90 14 4 29 263
TOTAL (ALL INDIA) 132729 198872 103036 30201 8085 5677 478600
@ Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are now Union Territories. This is consolidated data of both UTs - Jammu
and Kashmir and Ladakh.
* D&N Haveli and Daman & Diu have since been merged into one UT.
# Due to non-receipt of data from West Bengal for the year 2018 & 2019, data furnished for 2017 has been used.

6. ANNEXURE-IV
R.S.US.Q NO. 1014 FOR 10.02.2021
State/UT-wise details of inmates benefitting by education facilities in prisons during the
year 2019
Sl.
No.
State/UT No. of prisoners benefitted by
Elementary
Education
Adult
Education
Higher
Education
Computer
Course
1 ANDHRA PRADESH 2689 3536 666 56
2 ARUNACHAL PRADESH 0 0 0 0
3 ASSAM 442 201 65 102
4 BIHAR 2376 1539 250 128
5 CHHATTISGARH 2782 1317 433 20
6 GOA 0 12 82 0
7 GUJARAT 1378 1184 1596 480
8 HARYANA 817 1104 1231 1311
9 HIMACHAL PRADESH 44 25 24 0
10 JAMMU & KASHMIR @ 3 401 143 74
11 JHARKHAND 2993 905 333 347
12 KARNATAKA 980 1062 106 192
13 KERALA 634 326 70 128
14 MADHYA PRADESH 1410 8544 734 97
15 MAHARASHTRA 370 4856 1435 179
16 MANIPUR 0 0 0 0
17 MEGHALAYA 0 0 0 0
18 MIZORAM 0 10 5 0
19 NAGALAND 0 0 0 0
20 ODISHA 433 360 99 214
21 PUNJAB 330 119 91 90
22 RAJASTHAN 2110 575 395 110
23 SIKKIM 0 0 0 0
24 TAMIL NADU 1729 2187 381 93
25 TELANGANA 13633 7670 546 4740
26 TRIPURA 26 2 1 0
27 UTTAR PRADESH 9654 6739 1435 983
28 UTTARAKHAND 64 86 91 37
29 WEST BENGAL# 1184 755 148 211
30 A & N ISLANDS 30 26 15 0
31 CHANDIGARH 41 63 254 0
32 D & N HAVELI * 0 0 0 0
33 DAMAN & DIU * 0 0 0 0
34 DELHI 1652 827 1288 449
35 LAKSHADWEEP 0 0 0 0
36 PUDUCHERRY 56 7 0 6
TOTAL (ALL-INDIA) 47860 44438 11917 10047
@ Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are now Union Territories. This is consolidated data of both UTs - Jammu
and Kashmir and Ladakh.
* D&N Haveli and Daman & Diu have since been merged into one UT.
# Due to non-receipt of data from West Bengal for the year 2018 & 2019, data furnished for 2017 has been used.