THE EVOLUTION OF MAJOR TYPES OF CYBERCRIME AND CRITICALLY ANALYZES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT, 2000 (IT ACT), AND OTHER SUBSEQUENT LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS IN INDIA TO COMBAT THESE THREATS
AUTHOR – V R KALYANI, STUDENT AT VELS INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANCED STUDIES
BEST CITATION – V R KALYANI, THE EVOLUTION OF MAJOR TYPES OF CYBERCRIME AND CRITICALLY ANALYZES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT, 2000 (IT ACT), AND OTHER SUBSEQUENT LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS IN INDIA TO COMBAT THESE THREATS, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (12) OF 2025, PG. 1045-1050, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344
Abstract
This research critically examines the dynamic landscape of cybercrime in India and assesses the efficacy of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act), alongside allied legal and institutional frameworks. The exponential rise in digital transactions, fueled by national digitalization initiatives, has simultaneously fueled a surge in sophisticated cyber threats, including financial fraud, Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS), and the misuse of emerging technologies like deepfakes.
The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining doctrinal analysis of key statutes (the IT Act, the newly enacted Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), 2023, and the Indian Evidence Act) with an empirical review of governmental data and judicial pronouncements.
The findings reveal that while the IT Act provided a foundational legal basis for digital governance and crime prosecution, it suffers from significant obsolescence and procedural challenges. Critically, the primary impediment to effective justice is not a lack of statutory definitions but the low conviction rate stemming from profound institutional weaknesses. These weaknesses include the rigorous and often impractical requirements of Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act for digital evidence admissibility, the lack of sufficient digital forensics capacity within law enforcement, and persistent jurisdictional complexities in tackling cross-border crimes.
The introduction of the DPDPA, 2023, is recognized as a vital step towards enhancing data accountability, but its enforcement mechanism must be seamlessly integrated with the penal framework of the IT Act to avoid jurisdictional conflict. The research concludes that the existing legal structure remains a paper tiger unless immediate, targeted reforms are made to simplify evidence rules, dramatically enhance the technical capabilities of law enforcement, and mandate specialized training for the judiciary.
Keywords – Cybercrime, Information Technology Act, 2000, IT Act Effectiveness, Digital Evidence, Section 65B, Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023, Ransomware, Cyber Law India, Conviction Rate