New Delhi: India recorded 170 custodial deaths in 2025-26 up to March 15, according to data presented in Lok Sabha, with annual figures over the past five years ranging between 140 and 176. Despite these numbers, only one case of disciplinary action has been reported in connection with custodial deaths during the same five-year period. The sole case was recorded in Tamil Nadu, as per information from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) submitted to Parliament on Tuesday (March 24).The data shows that deaths in poilc custody have remained steady across these five years – there has been no respite in 2025-26. The figures stood at 176 in 2021-22, 163 in 2022-23, 157 in 2023-24 and 140 in 2024-25, before rising again to 170 in the current financial year so far.State-wise data indicates that some states account for a higher number of cases. In 2025-26, Bihar recorded the highest number of deaths in police custody at 19, almost double the figure in the previous year (10). In Rajasthan as well, the number of deaths in custody doubled from 9 to 18 over 2024-25 up to March 15, 2026. Uttar Pradesh recorded 15 custodial deaths in the present year, and Gujarat, Maharashtra and Punjab 15 each.Odisha recorded the largest percentage increase in custodial deaths, rising from 2 in 2021-22 to 9 in 2025-26 (up to March 15), an increase of 7 cases or 350%. Maharashtra recorded the largest decrease, falling from 30 in 2021-22 to 14 in 2025-26 so far, a decline of 16 cases (approximately 53%) over the longest period in the data shared in parliament.Custodial deaths have risen in absolute numbers in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Puducherry. They have also risen in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, from 2 to 3 deaths and 5 to 7 deaths, respectively.Over a longer time period, Maharashtra reported 30 custodial deaths in 2021-22 and 14 in 2025-26 so far. Gujarat recorded 24 in 2021-22 and 14 in the current year.Responding to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha on March 24, 2026, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that “Police and Public Order” are state subjects under the constitution. He said the Ministry of Home Affairs and the NHRC issue advisories to ensure protection of human rights.In 2025-26 up to March 15, no custodial deaths were reported from Goa, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir. Among Union Territories, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Ladakh and Lakshadweep also reported zero cases.Custodial deaths declined in several states and Union Territories in 2025-26 (up to March 15) compared to 2024-25, including Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh.The minister said that all custodial deaths, whether in police or judicial custody, must be reported to the NHRC within 24 hours. The government said in its reply that the NHRC has issued guidelines such as video recording of post-mortems and model autopsy procedures. In cases where negligence is found, the NHRC recommends action to the concerned authorities, while disciplinary proceedings are carried out by the respective state governments.The government also provided data on prison populations. As of December 31, 2023, there were 3,89,910 undertrial prisoners in India compared to 1,35,536 convicts, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of undertrial prisoners in the country, with 73,491 undertrials as of December 31, 2023, according to the data presented in Lok Sabha. It is followed by Bihar with 46,529 undertrials and Maharashtra with 32,438, making these states the largest contributors to the undertrial prison population.No district-wise data on custodial deaths or prison populations is maintained by the NHRC or NCRB, the government said.