ગુજરાતી
English
22% of prisoners in Gujarat are illiterate, with 53% having studied up to Class 10.
October 2025
The central government has released a shocking report on illiteracy in Gujarat. It reveals that young prisoners are the most illiterate or least educated.
The India Prison Statistics 2023 report, released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), states that out of a total of 5,154 convicted prisoners in Gujarat, 2,739 have not studied up to Class 10. This means that approximately 53% of prisoners on hard labor have not studied up to Class 10. Similarly, 1,184 convicted prisoners are illiterate.
49% of prisoners performing menial jobs in the state have studied less than Class 10.
This situation is also observed among prisoners performing menial jobs. According to the NCRB report, in 2023, 49 percent of the state’s temporary labor prisoners had studied less than the 10th grade. Of the 11,549 temporary labor prisoners in the state, 5,682 had not even completed their SSC education. While 1,966 undertrial prisoners were illiterate, 2,774 temporary labor prisoners had not even completed their graduation. In 2023, there were a total of 11,549 temporary labor prisoners in 32 different jails in the state, including 11,183 men, 364 women, and 2 transgender prisoners.
30 percent of convicts in the state are under 30 years of age.
In 2023, of the state’s total 5,154 convicted prisoners, 1,631 were between the ages of 18 and 30. This figure represents approximately 31.6 percent of the total convicts during the year. Furthermore, 50 percent of convicts were aged between 30 and 50 years, while 18 percent were over 50 years of age.
45 percent of undertrial prisoners are under 30 years of age
In 2023, of the total 11,549 undertrials in the state, 5,248 were aged between 18 and 30 years. This number represents approximately 45 percent of undertrial prisoners. 46.1 percent of undertrials were aged between 30 and 50 years, while only 8.2 percent were aged 50 years or over.
64 percent of convicted prisoners were serving life sentences
Gujarat had the highest number of convicted prisoners serving life sentences during 2023, with 3,254. As of December 31, 2023, 58 prisoners had been sentenced to death. 713 adult prisoners were facing sentences ranging from 10 to 13 years.
The state’s prison occupancy rate in 2023 was 122.8 percent. The state’s total prison population was 14,065, compared to a total of 17,265 prisoners.
How many inmates are there in Gujarat’s prisons?
Regarding the capacity of all prisons in Gujarat, the Gujarat prison administration currently has a capacity of approximately 16,000. A total of 18,827 inmates are currently serving their sentences in various prisons across Gujarat. Thus, the number of inmates serving sentences in Gujarat’s prisons is 113% over capacity, a 13 percent increase. It’s worth noting that among the inmates who come to jail for short periods to serve their sentences, there are 600 women prisoners who create audiobooks.
How Many Jails?
Currently, Gujarat has 65 prisons. There are four central jails in the four metropolitan cities of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot. There are district jails and taluka sub-jails in 33 districts. There are women’s jails in Ahmedabad and Vadodara. To allow well-behaved inmates to comfortably serve their sentences, there are four open jails in the state. Inmates also practice farming in these jails.
Its capacity is 16,000 prisoners. On average, it holds 18,000 prisoners. Of these, 80%, or 14,400, are temporary workers. 3,600 are mature workers.
The capacity is being increased by 4,000 prisoners in newly formed districts.
How many jails are there in Gujarat?
Currently, there are a total of 65 jails in Gujarat. Four of these central jails are located in metropolitan cities such as Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat, and Rajkot. The remaining 33 districts have district jails. In addition, there are three open jails and sub-jails at the taluka level.
Central Jail: This type of jail houses prisoners sentenced to long terms (2 years or more). It is managed by the State Prison Department. Currently, there are four central jails in operation in Gujarat. They are located in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Vadodara, and Lajpur (Surat).
What is the status of Ahmedabad’s prisons?
There are three types of prisons in Ahmedabad. The Ahmedabad Central Jail has a capacity of 2,586 inmates, but currently houses 3,887. In the Ahmedabad Women’s Jail, 144 female inmates are currently serving their sentences, against a capacity of 200. Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad Open Jail has a total capacity of 60 inmates, and currently houses 7 inmates.
Sub-jails: These types of prisons are located in talukas or cities outside the district. They are used to house inmates in custody or those serving short sentences. There are currently eight sub-jails in Gujarat.
Open Jails: These prisons are designed for rehabilitation purposes. Inmates are housed here in a more independent environment, free to work, and under less control. Prisoners who are disciplined and do not abuse their freedom are housed here. Currently, there are four open prisons in Gujarat. These are located in Ahmedabad, Junagadh, Amreli, and Dantewada (Vadodara).
Special Jail: This type of jail is typically built for special types of prisoners, such as political prisoners, VIPs, or prisoners with special security concerns. Gujarat currently has two special jails. These are located in Porbandar and Palara (Bhuj).
District Jail (District Level): This jail is typically located in the main city of the district and serves as the main jail for that district. Prisoners serving short-term sentences and those whose cases are still pending in court are housed here. Gujarat currently has a total of 12 district jails.
Women’s Jail: This jail is specifically built for female prisoners. Only women are housed here. Facilities such as housing, security, and rehabilitation are provided keeping in mind women’s needs. (Google translation from Gujarati)
