Long-term declines in suicide rates in India appear to have reversed after 2017, including during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, but whether this increase has persisted beyond the pandemic remains unclear. National Crime Records Bureau data were used to calculate suicide rates for 2013–2023 by sex and state. Age-specific rates were estimated nationally for 2019–2023. States were grouped into low, middle and high Sociodemographic Index (SDI) categories. Rate ratios and rate differences for 2018–2023 were calculated using 2017 as the reference year. The national suicide rate increased by ~14% between 2013 and 2023 (10.84–12.36 per 100,000), driven by a ~24% rise in male suicide rates (14.16–17.53 per 100,000) while female rates declined by ~6% (7.33–6.91 per 100,000). Rates declined to 2017, then increased, with the highest male rate in 2023, while female rates were more variable and peaked in 2022. Relative post-2017 increases were largest among males in low SDI states, whereas absolute increases were greater in high SDI states. The steepest rises occurred among middle-aged men and adults aged ≥60 years. Suicide prevention efforts in India must address suicide among men, particularly middle-aged and older men.
