Telangana’s prison population surged 12% in 2025, driven by cyber crime and drunk driving cases, with undertrials making up most inmates
Increase in Prison Inmates in Telangana in 2025
The number of prison inmates in Telangana rose by nearly 12% in 2025. This increase was driven largely by a rise in cyber crime and drunk driving cases. The Telangana Prisons Department presented the Annual Report on January 12, 2026.
Inmate Statistics
| Year | Total Inmates | Undertrials | Convicted Prisoners | Detenues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 38,079 | 36,627 | 3,229 | Not specified |
| 2025 | 42,566 | 36,627 | 5,856 | More than doubled |
According to Soumya Mishra, Director General of Telangana Prisons, the number of convicted prisoners rose from 3,229 in 2024 to 5,856 in 2025. The number of detenues more than doubled. Cyber crime cases saw a jump of over 135%, while drunk driving cases rose by more than 150%. Other crimes, including those under the NDPS Act, POCSO Act, murder, property offences, and crimes against women, also increased. However, the number of foreign nationals as inmates declined from 107 to 74.
Age Groups and Repeat Offenders
The age group of 18 to 30 years accounted for the largest share of new inmates. Those between 31 and 50 years followed. Repeat offenders increased from 1,468 in 2024 to 2,496 in 2025, indicating ongoing challenges in preventing recidivism.
Digital Court Productions
The Director General noted a major shift towards digital processes for court productions. In 2025, there were 1,93,404 court productions, with nearly 70% conducted through video conferencing. This was an increase from about 56% in 2024. The overall physical production rate improved, showing better coordination between prisons, police, and courts.
Legal Aid and Rehabilitation Initiatives
The prison administration expanded video conferencing for court production. They also rolled out various rehabilitation, healthcare, skill development, and technology initiatives. Legal aid infrastructure was strengthened with the help of State and District Legal Services Authorities. A total of 155 panel advocates and 47 para-legal volunteers now work in prisons. In 2025, 44 jail adalaths were held, hearing 1,558 cases and releasing 985 prisoners.
Education and Skill Development
Education and skill development remained a focus. Over 23,000 prisoners became literate through a literacy drive. Additionally, 108 inmates enrolled for Class X examinations through the National Institute of Open Schooling. Twenty-eight inmates graduated through Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University. Nearly 4,615 convicts, about 79% of those admitted in 2025, received vocational training in various trades. Prison industries and agricultural units generated wages exceeding ₹1.63 crore for inmates during the year.
Financial Assistance and Therapy Programs
Interest-free loans were extended to prisoners, with 58 inmates receiving financial assistance in 2025. Behavioral therapy programs, such as Unnathi and psycho-social counseling, covered more than 1,500 inmates. De-addiction centers branded as Nivrutti were established in major prisons, offering structured screening, treatment, and post-release follow-up.
Rehabilitation and Technology Upgrades
The department expanded its network of fuel outlets operated by semi-open and released prisoners in partnership with national oil companies. Three new outlets opened during the year, with over ₹3.79 crore paid as salaries to inmates working there. Initiatives like sentence planning, waste-to-wealth programs, agarbatti production from temple flowers, and apiculture projects were also scaled up, producing nearly 500 kg of honey across six prisons.
Technology upgrades were a major focus. Equipment worth ₹2.5 crore, including computers, biometric devices, body-worn cameras, drones, and surveillance systems, was supplied under the ICJS 2.0 and modernization schemes. An IT Cell was set up at the prison headquarters. A Swagatham portal for digital visitor management was launched. Steps were taken for e-Office and biometric attendance across all jails. The High Court approved the installation of kiosk machines in prisons for inmates to access case details, legal aid, and appeal filing services.
