New Delhi, July 29 - India has recorded a rise in the number of rape cases during the past five years with states like Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal accounting for a large number of them, parliament was informed Wednesday.

According to the data compiled by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), a total of 20,737 rape cases were registered in 2007 against 19,384 in 2006, while the figure was 18,359 in 2005 and 18,233 in 2004 against 15,847 in 2003.

The data tabled in parliament pointed out that the maximum number of cases were registered in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.

Madhya Pradesh had 3,010 rape cases in 2007 against 2,900 in 2006. West Bengal accounted for 2,106 rape cases in 2007 against 1,731 in 2006.

While the number of such crimes was on the rise in almost all states, Delhi has witnessed a reverse trend in the past two years. A total of 658 cases were registered in 2005 while in 2006 the numbers stood at 623, coming down further to 598 in 2007.