CCTNS Hackathon & Cyber Challenge | 05 Feb 2021

Why in News

Recently, the inaugural function of the 2nd CCTNS Hackathon and Cyber Challenge 2020-21 of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) was held in New Delhi.

Key Points

  • Background:
    • This hackathon is in continuation to the Hackathon & Cyber Challenge which concluded in March 2020.
    • It aimed to deepen understanding and enhance skills of the law enforcement personnel across all ranks and file, empowering them to adopt smart strategies for effectively addressing the evolving threats.
  • About the 2nd CCTNS Hackathon and Cyber Challenge:
    • Police officials especially those from the cutting edge level, academia, industry, students and others are being invited to help improve existing IT applications as well as help identify new IT applications to improve the CCTNS ecosystem.
    • The Mobile App: “Locate Nearest Police Station” was also launched at the function.
      • This App will help various users including women commuters, interstate travelers, domestic and foreign tourists etc. especially during any emergency and has the facility to dial 112. This is another step towards improving accessibility of the police to the citizens.
      • This will add to other Central Citizen Services being provided by the NCRB such as “Missing Person Search”, “Generate Vehicle NOC”, “Proclaimed Offenders Information” and various other services being provided by the State Citizen Police Portals.

Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems

  • Background:
    • Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) is a plan scheme conceived in the light of experience of a non-plan scheme namely - Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA).
  • Launch:
    • CCTNS is a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
    • Approx. 14,000 Police Stations throughout the country have been proposed to be automated besides 6000 higher offices in the police hierarchy.
    • It was approved in 2009.
  • Objectives:
    • Make the Police functioning citizen friendly and more transparent by automating the functioning of Police Stations.
    • Improve delivery of citizen-centric services through effective usage of ICT.
    • Provide the Investigating Officers of the Civil Police with tools, technology and information to facilitate investigation of crime and detection of criminals.
  • Recent Initiatives:
    • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) and National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for the access of the CCTNS database.

National Crime Records Bureau

  • NCRB, headquartered in New Delhi, was set-up in 1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.
  • It was set up based on the recommendations of the National Police Commission (1977-1981) and the MHA’s Task Force (1985).
  • NCRB brings out the annual comprehensive statistics of crime across the country (‘Crime in India’ report).
    • Being published since 1953, the report serves as a crucial tool in understanding the law and order situation across the country.

Source: PIB