Telangana is located 5,853 prisoners against a justified capacity of 8 037, which led to the occupancy rate only 72.8%. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/Istockphoto
While most Indian states continue to fight overcrowded prisons, Telangana represents a significant contrast, with its prisons working on less than three quarters of their sanctioning capacity, according to the latest report on India 2023 prison published by the National Office for Crime records (NCRB).
As of December 31, 2023, Telangana was placed 5,853 prisoners against a justified capacity of 8,037, resulting in a rate of occupancy of only 72.8%. This number stands significantly below the nationwide diameter of 120.8%, where the overfill remains an urgent problem.
When Telangana broke up the profile of the prisoners, he handed 3,863 convicts and 1,134 underlines, with another 413 prisoners in partial things. Unlike many other countries, sub-teon of telangana showed relatively low pressure and operated at 51.9% occupancy.
The state has one devoted prison of women with a capacity of 150. Only 62 prisoners were sought to record a low occupancy rate of 41.3%. Telangana also runs an open prison of similar size, which also conceived only 62 prisoners.
As far as correction facilities are concerned, Telangana maintains a Bustal institution designed for young perpetrators aged 18 to 21 years. The center had a capacity of 93, but during 2023 no prisoners reported.
In terms of gender division, 44,473 men and 2,748 prisoners accommodated in Telangana in 2023, along with 33 Transgender Prisoners, to 31 December 2023. This means that women represented about 5.8% of the prison population in the state. By comparison, Delhi reported 56,439 men and 1,623 prisoners, while women containing only 2.8%, the lowest share between the sub -metro states. In the Mahari, women were 4.5% of prisoners, while in Tamil Nadu the number was higher to 6.5%. Karnataka recorded 3.8% of prisoners and West Bengal 5.1%. These figures will place telangan over Delhi and Karnataka, as far as the proportion of women in custody is concerned, although still under Tamil Nadu, which showed the highest proportion of prisoners among the main states.
Open prisons are special institutions that exclusively restrict convicted prisoners. Capitated with good behavior, fulfilling prescribed standards, they are transferred to these devices where safety is minimal and prisoners usually deal with agricultural activities. Only 17 countries operate an open prison. Rajasthan reported the highest number with 50, followed by Mahashtra (19), Madhya Pradesh (7), Gujarat and West Bengal (every 4), Keraral and Tamil Nadu (every 3) and Haryan (2). The remaining nine states – Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Pandjab, Telangana and Uttarakhanda – have only one.
The report also emphasizes that 3.4% of all convicted adoption in Telangana during 2023 were common perpetrators, one of the higher shares of Indian states.
Prison rights activists note that while relatively low occupancy is proposed by better management and infrastructure in Telangana, the presence of the usual perpetrators indicates persistent challenges in rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
Published – October 2, 2025 06:48
