International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Social Sciences 14 4 2025 10 14 Crime against Women in India: A Study of Barrier to Empowerment and SDGs Progress 14 19 EN Kumar Rahul 1 Department of Economic Studies and Policy, Central University of South Bihar, Gaya- 824236, Bihar, India Ojha Rajni Kant 2 Department of Economic Studies and Policy, Central University of South Bihar, Gaya- 824236, Bihar, India Kumar Pritam 3 Department of Economic Studies and Policy, Central University of South Bihar, Gaya- 824236, Bihar, India Bhardwaj Rishabh 1 Dept. of Journalism and Mass Communication, YS College, Barnala, Punjab, India Chakraborty Debjani 2 Dept. of Journalism and Mass Communication, YS College, Barnala, Punjab, India Kaur Roopinderjit 3 YS College, Barnala, Punjab, India Rawat Deepika 4 Dept. of Journalism and Mass Communication, Tula’s Institute, Dehradun, India Bhagra Abhishek 1 Research Scholar, Department of Sociology & Social work, H.P. University, Shimla- 5, HP, India > Review Paper 2025 6 1 2025 10 14 The increasing crime and violence against women in India is a matter of grave concern. Women's violence is not just a problem of the present society but has a history that spans centuries. Women have historically faced many sorts of oppression and exploitation. However, in the present times, this problem is becoming more complex and severe. The increasing violence against women in Indian society presents a horrifying scenario. The violence against women is seen in various forms and situations. The world is leading in technical breakthroughs, luxurious life and others the proportion of eve teasing, sexual assault, gang rape, murder after rape and other crime against women is also increasing. Rape and brutal murders have become very common nowadays. Dowry deaths, battering, bride burning, cyber crimes and other forms of violence have become part of daily life in modern Indian society. Criminal acts targeting women has significantly increased in independent India. The parallel growth in criminality against women is impeding the country's social, political and economic advancement. The paper argues that the growing crime against women in India represents a major obstacle to their empowerment and hinders progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Copyright@ International Science Community Association