Greater Noida (Hridaya Mohan): India’s digital revolution has brought unprecedented opportunities – and equally formidable challenges. As cybercriminals grow more sophisticated, exploiting everything from UPI payments to social media platforms, our response must be equally agile. Enter the E-Zero FIR, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) game-changing weapon in India’s cyber warfare arsenal.
The MHA’s Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) introduced the new e-Zero FIR initiative to nab any criminal with unprecedented speed. Launched as a pilot project for Delhi, the new system will automatically convert cyber financial crimes filed at NCRP or 1930 to FIRs,…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 19, 2025
A Digital Leap in Combating Cybercrime
In a world where cybercrime can destroy lives in minutes, India’s E-Zero FIR could be the digital shield citizens have long needed. In a decisive push to modernize law enforcement and protect digital citizens, MHA has rolled out the E-Zero FIR, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at tackling the fast-growing threat of cybercrime in India. This digital-first reporting mechanism promises to change how India responds to online fraud, scams and cyber abuse—putting power directly in the hands of victims. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah has said that MHA’s Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) has introduced the new E-Zero FIR initiative to nab any criminal with unprecedented speed. In his post on ‘X’ Amit Shah said that launched as a pilot project for Delhi, the new system will automatically convert cyber financial crimes filed at National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) or 1930 to FIRs, initially above the threshold limit of ₹10 lakh. The new system, which will drive investigations swiftly cracking down on cybercriminals, will soon be extended to the entire nation. The government is bolstering the cybersecurity grid to build the country cyber-secure. This is a significant step to achieve PM Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Cyber Secure Bharat’.
What is E-Zero FIR?
The E-Zero FIR is an online, jurisdiction-free version of the First Information Report, designed especially for cybercrime cases. Unlike traditional FIRs that require victims to report incidents at a local police station, often leading to confusion or delays due to jurisdictional limitations, the E-Zero FIR can be filed from anywhere, by anyone, without worrying about where the crime originated.
Once submitted online, the complaint is automatically routed to the appropriate police unit, ensuring faster action and better coordination across states.
Why It Is a Big Deal?
Pankaj Chaudhary, Union Minister of State for Finance informed in Lok Sabha that the losses due to cyber frauds in India have surged nearly 10-fold in a decade. These have increased to ₹177.05 crore in FY24 from ₹18.46 crore in FY15. According to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Indians are likely to lose over ₹1.2 trillion over the next year due to cyber fraud. Data compiled by NCRP shows that 1,37,254 complaints were received in 2021, 5,15,083 in 2022, 11,31,649 in 2023 and 17,10,505 last year. This is just the tip of the iceberg. From phishing scams and UPI fraud to cyberstalking and identity theft, the digital threat landscape is expanding every day. Yet, many victims hesitate to report incidents due to the complexity of the process or fear of being ignored.
The E-Zero FIR removes these barriers. It’s simple, fast and empowering. Victims can log onto a centralized portal, file a complaint and receive a tracking number—all without stepping into a police station.
Empowering Every Indian
This initiative particularly benefits users in rural or remote areas, where access to police services can be limited. It also addresses the challenges faced by women and the elderly, who are often the most targeted and the least likely to report. By making the reporting process digital and straightforward, the MHA is ensuring that no cybercrime goes unreported simply because of geography or hesitation.
Challenges on the Horizon
While E-Zero FIR is a leap forward, its success depends on effective implementation and public awareness. Law enforcement agencies across states must be digitally trained, responsive and equipped to handle cyber complaints quickly. There must also be strong back-end support, including digital forensics, inter-agency coordination and data protection measures.
Moreover, ensuring public awareness is crucial. Without citizens knowing about the E-Zero FIR or how to use it, its potential impact could remain underutilized.
A Digital Leap for Justice
The E-Zero FIR is not just an administrative reform—it’s a bold statement that India is ready to take cybercrime seriously. In a world where digital crimes often move faster than justice, this tool has the potential to level the playing field.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah recently stated, “In the digital battleground, our systems must be ten steps ahead of criminals.” The E-Zero FIR represents exactly this forward-thinking approach.
A New Era
For every Indian who’s ever feared clicking a link, doubted a banking SMS or worried about online harassment – help is now just a click away. The message to cybercriminals is clear: India’s digital defenses just got smarter, faster and far more formidable.
It marks the beginning of a new era where justice isn’t delayed by red tape or borders—because in cyberspace, the first step to justice should be just a click away.
About the Author
Mr. Hridaya Mohan (hridayamohan@yahoo.co.in) is a regular Columnist with a renowned Indian daily “The Hitavada”, “Bharat Neeti Media” and some other newspapers / magazines internationally. Superannuated as Executive Director, Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL), he is Senior Adviser, Metallon Holdings Pvt. Ltd. presently. He headed SAIL office at Beijing as Chief Representative (China & Mongolia) for six years. He has published and presented seventeen papers globally. Recipient of “Sir M Visvesvaraya Gold Medal”for one of his papers, “Benchmarking of Maintenance Practices in Steel Industry” from The Institution of Engineers (India), he was awarded with “Scroll of Honour” for the excellent contributions to Engineering fraternity from IE(I), Bhilai, “Jawahar Award” for leadership excellence in SAIL and “Supply Chain Leader – 2017” award from IIMM.
