Amidst the increasing cases of cyber fraud, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed to rapidly implement the e-Zero FIR system in the states and union territories. This digital system has been developed by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Its objective is to initiate action in cases of cyber financial fraud as soon as the complaint is received. At present, cyber criminals sitting in one state target people of another state, due to which there is delay in investigation and filing of FIR. e-Zero FIR is an attempt to overcome this problem. The government believes that this will help in saving the fraud money and reaching the criminals faster. Let us understand what is e-Zero FIR and how will it benefit common users?
What is e-Zero FIR?
e-Zero FIR is a digital system of Zero FIR. Generally, FIR of any crime is registered in the same police station in whose area the crime has taken place. But in Zero FIR this problem gets eliminated and complaint can be filed anywhere. When this process has been given online and digital format, hence it was named e-Zero FIR.
This arrangement is legally recognized under Section 173 of the Indian Civil Security Code (BNSS), 2023. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs has prepared it for quick action in cases of cyber financial fraud. As soon as the complaint is registered, the matter reaches the concerned agencies, which can reduce the time taken in investigation.
Know this also
- e-Zero FIR has legal recognition under Section 173 of BNSS 2023.
- Verified cyber financial fraud of Rs 10 lakh or more can automatically convert into e-Zero FIR.
- After the FIR is registered, the complainant has to get the verification done within three days.
- In 2025, 28.15 lakh cyber complaints were registered across the country.
- According to I4C, it has helped in saving suspected fraud amount of more than Rs 8,690 crore.
Does every cyber complaint become e-Zero FIR?
No. As per current rules, verified cyber fraud complaints of Rs 10 lakh or more filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) or 1930 helpline are automatically converted into e-Zero FIRs. That is, at present all cyber complaints do not get the status of automatic e-Zero FIR. However, even in cases involving small amounts, a complaint can be filed and the investigation process can begin. The current focus of e-Zero FIR is to take immediate action in large financial cyber fraud cases so that the defrauded amount can be stopped as soon as possible.
What happens after FIR is registered?
When a complaint turns into an e-Zero FIR, it is immediately sent to the cyber police station of the concerned state or district through the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS). With this, investigating agencies can become active at the initial level itself. According to the rules, within three days of filing of e-zero FIR, the complainant has to go to the concerned cyber police station and get his verification done. After completion of verification, it is transferred to regular FIR. The purpose of this process is to link the digital complaint with the legal investigation process.
What benefit will the common man get from this?
In cases of cyber crime, the first 1 to 3 hours are considered the most important. During this time, criminals transfer the defrauded amount to many accounts. If the complaint is filed immediately and the investigating agencies get the information in time, then the suspicious account can be frozen. The biggest advantage of e-zero FIR is that the victim will not have to visit different police stations to lodge an FIR. The complaint will be registered online and will automatically reach the concerned agencies. This will improve coordination between banks, police and digital platforms and may also increase the possibility of saving some part of the defrauded amount.
How big a threat has cyber crime become?
Cyber crimes are continuously increasing in the country. According to the available data, 28.15 lakh complaints were registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal in 2025, while in 2024 the number was 22.68 lakh. That means an increase of about 24 percent was recorded in one year. In terms of financial loss, there was a loss of about Rs 22,495 crore due to cyber fraud in 2025. Crimes like fake investment schemes, digital arrest, OTP fraud, UPI fraud, fake loan apps and identity theft have increased rapidly. Statistics also show that despite lakhs of complaints, formal FIR was registered in only 55,484 cases. This is the reason why the government wants to reduce the distance between the complaint and the FIR.
Will e-Zero FIR reduce cyber crimes?
According to experts, no system alone can eliminate crime, but it can definitely increase problems for criminals. Cyber thugs often commit crimes sitting outside the boundaries of the state and country. In such cases, delay is the biggest advantage for them. The purpose of e-zero FIR is to reduce this delay. If police, banks and other agencies become active as soon as the complaint is received, it can be easy to stop suspicious transactions. According to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C), it has helped in saving suspected fraud amount of more than Rs 8,690 crore by the beginning of 2026. This indicates that prompt reporting and immediate action can reduce the impact of cyber crime.
Where and how can you file a cyber crime complaint?
If any person becomes a victim of cyber fraud then he should first call the National Cyber Helpline number 1930. Apart from this, online complaint can be filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. If necessary, the local cyber cell or nearest police station can also be contacted. Every minute is important in cases of cyber crime. Therefore, filing a complaint as soon as the incident is known is considered the most important step. Financial loss can also be reduced by this.
What is the expert’s opinion?
Supreme Court lawyer Virag Gupta by TV9 Bharatvarsha Digital In a special conversation with, he said that the way new AI platforms are coming into the digital space every day. Every 6 months a new mobile model comes. In this way, you will have to update your responsibilities in a new way every day because the criminals are also becoming advanced. There are a few things that need to be understood about the e-FIR that has been talked about. According to the PIB report, FIR is registered only in cases involving more than Rs 10 lakh (cyber crime).
He said that this is worrying because in NCRB where the data of all FIRs is stored, only 1,01,928 cases were registered in the entire country in 2024. When so many crimes are happening every hour, not registering an FIR is a violation of the fundamental rights of the people because it gives more permission to the criminals to commit crimes. With the help of helpline number 1930, about 23,90,000 complaints were received in 2025. At the same time, about 21 lakh cases were reported in RBI in 3 years, lakhs of crores of frauds are taking place in UPI. In such a situation, the crime should not be decided on the basis of the limit of amount. Because in IPC or BNS, if theft is of ₹1000, it is theft, then FIR should be registered in every cyber crime case.
Question: Can e-Zero FIR prove to be a big reform against cyber crime?
answer: Provisions for both e-zero FIR and EFIR were made 3 years ago i.e. in the new criminal law BNS of 2023. This criminal law is applicable throughout India. Initially it was implemented in Delhi and now they are being told that now e-zero FIR should be registered in all the complaint cases of cyber crime, but there are 3 big things in this.
Number 1: In criminal law, the economic loss is not important whether it is Rs 10 lakh or Rs 10. If a cyber crime is committed against someone. The definition is given in the IT Act, so FIR should be compulsory. This has nothing to do with Rs 10 lakh. Secondly, whatever cyber crime complaint is being sent to the Reserve Bank of India, it is being sent to the Home Ministry. E-zero FIR should be registered in all those cases. If you do not file e-zero FIR, cyber criminals get emboldened. Thirdly, e-zero FIR is not a new reform. This is a 3 year old thing and it is a responsibility to implement it in all the states. To strengthen the states, police is a state subject according to the 7th Schedule of the Constitution, while IT is a central subject. The central government should make arrangements to provide more resources and training to the police to deal with cyber crimes.
Question: What is the biggest legal challenge in cyber fraud cases?
answer: The biggest legal challenge we face in cyber fraud cases is one issue. In the matter of Telegram, Telegram was banned by the government in the NEET case, but after that it was started again. The government has filed a reply in the High Court. According to that answer, in the last 4 years, about 1 lakh cyber crimes took place in Telegram and there was also a fraud worth several thousand crores. Despite that, FIRs were not registered in those cases, which is a matter of great concern. In 2013, the Delhi High Court, in its historic judgment in the KN Govindacharya case, had given strict instructions to social media companies and the central government related to internet security, online privacy of children and digital accountability. But accountability of social media platforms like Telegram and Facebook is not being fixed.
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