India has seen a dramatic rise in the number of Interpol Red Notices issued at the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) request, reflecting a significant shift in the country’s approach to apprehending fugitives who flee abroad. The increase, driven by diplomatic outreach and technological upgrades, follows India’s hosting of major global events like the Interpol General Assembly in 2022 and the G20 Summit in 2023.

According to data accessed by PTI, Red Notices have more than doubled since 2023. There were 25 notices issued in 2020, 47 in 2021, 40 in 2022, followed by a spike to 100 in 2023, 107 in 2024, and 56 in just the first half of 2025. These alerts, issued by the Lyon-based Interpol, allow global law enforcement to detain individuals wanted for extradition.

Officials attribute this surge to India’s enhanced legal cooperation and advocacy for denying safe havens to criminals. The country’s leadership during international summits helped establish stronger frameworks for extradition and legal collaboration. The CBI, serving as India’s National Central Bureau, has also implemented key technological upgrades, including AI-powered profiling, digitised dossiers, and integration with Interpol’s I-24/7 system.

One key innovation is the Bharatpol portal, launched in January 2025, which has slashed the average time to process Red Notice requests from six months to three. This transformation, once delayed by bureaucratic procedures, has enabled faster international action against fugitives.

The agency’s efforts have translated into results. Since 2020, India has successfully extradited or deported 134 fugitives, with 23 brought back in 2025 alone. This contrasts sharply with the 74 extraditions achieved in the entire decade from 2010 to 2019.

India’s proactive stance has extended beyond Red Notices. Blue Notices, which seek information about individuals, rose from 47 in 2020 to 82 by mid-2025. Yellow Notices, used for missing persons or identity inquiries, increased from just one in 2020 to 27 in 2024 and four so far in 2025. In total, 145 Interpol Notices have already been issued in 2025, compared to 73 in 2020 and 208 in all of 2024.

Interpol has also piloted a new Silver Notice, introduced this year, to help track illicit foreign assets—a move influenced by India’s push for transparency and asset recovery.

While officials recognize that more work remains to meet internal goals, India’s momentum in leveraging international cooperation, modern tech, and strategic diplomacy marks a turning point in its global criminal justice efforts.