New Delhi, September 30: India recorded more than 1.7 lakh suicides in 2023, marking a marginal increase of 0.3% from the previous year, according to the latest report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Family disputes and illness remained the two leading causes behind the distressing numbers.

While major states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and West Bengal contributed the bulk of cases, a contrasting trend emerged from the Northeast, where three states witnessed significant declines. Mizoram reported a steep 35.9% drop in suicides, followed by Nagaland with a 26.5% decline and Arunachal Pradesh with a 14.1% decline compared to 2022.

This positive regional trend stood out against the national picture, where suicides among students and unemployed youth accounted for 8.1% of victims, and housewives represented more than half of the female victims nationwide (24,048 out of 46,648). The most vulnerable group remained individuals aged between 18 and 45 years, who made up nearly two-thirds of all cases.

However, the report also flagged alarming figures from Sikkim, which reported one of the highest suicide rates in the country at 40.2 per lakh population, second only to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 49.6.

Experts have pointed out that fluctuating trends in smaller Northeastern states may reflect unique socio-economic pressures, even as some regions show encouraging signs of decline.