Although Indian crime statistics are inaccurate and most often fail to identify the sex of the victim, there are clear indications that rape has increased by alarming rates in recent years, particularly rape by police officers. Female deaths asociated with dowry disputes have also been significant, as 11 of 137 female suicides between January 1, 1979, to June 15, 1980, were considered due to maltreatment in dowry disputes. The sexual harassment of working women has also become a serious problem. Current laws on rape, dowry, immoral trafficking in women and girls, and sexual harassment and molestation have become practically ineffective, as the accused persons in most of the cases are not convicted. In many cases, laws need to be modified to suit present social and political conditions. Other reform measures should include (1) educating the public about offenses against women so public pressure may bring more offenders into court, (2) efforts to isolate offenders socially, (3) educating women about their rights under the law, (4) the training of social workers to assist female victims, and (5) the creation of women's associations at local, district, State, and national levels to fulfill advocacy roles. Other suggestions that have been made are that the burden of proof be shifted to the accused in rape cases, that women jurists be appointed, that reports of rape victims be recorded by women police officers and investigated by them, and that women judges be appointed to try rape cases. Tables and four references are given.