India’s prominence, prestige and economy is on a high trajectory at international level and China has, for the first time, realised that beyond a point, India would not shrink from confrontation.
- A country projects its strength at the international level in direct proportion to its internal cohesion, its ability to resolve the differences within and free from terrorists or extremists threat.
About National Security
India, a vibrant democracy with a rich cultural image, faces various security challenges that threaten its stability and progress.
- Refers: It is the security and defence of a sovereign state, including its citizens, economy, and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of government.
- Categorisation: Security can be categorised into two groups:
- Internal Security: It deals with the management of the security within the border of a country. It secures the maintenance of peace and law and order, and upholding the sovereignty of the country.
- It comes under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- External Security: It deals with the management of security against aggression by a foreign country.
- It is the sole domain of the Armed forces of the country and comes under the ambit of the Ministry of Defence.
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About Internal Security in India
Destabilising a country through internal disturbances is more economical and less objectionable, particularly when direct warfare is not an option and international borders cannot be violated.
- Important Aspects:
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- Rules and Laws: Upholding the rules and laws made by the authority
- People-Centricity: Accepting the sovereign power of people
- Protection: Protecting India’s national sovereignty
- Integrity: Securing the territorial integrity of India
- Rightful Place: Promoting India’s rise to its rightful place in international affairs
- Peaceful Environment: Ensuring a peaceful internal environment within India
- Safe and Secure Environment: Creating a climate for our citizens that is just, equitable, prosperous, and shields them from risks to life and livelihood
- Ensured by: These aspects of Internal Security of India are ensured by the police, which is helped by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
- Impact of External Security Environment on Internal Security: The external security environment is dynamic. It has a salutary impact on India’s internal security.
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- External factors are usually not in India’s control and need to deal with better intelligence, improved capabilities and focussed international cooperation. Some examples are as follows:
- Cross-border terrorism and Radicalization
- Illegal migrations and Refugees (i.e. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar etc.)
- Drugs and Arms Smuggling (Afghanistan-Pakistan)
- Cyber Space (Dark net)
- Illegal activities on the High Seas- Proliferation, Fishing, etc.
- Instability in the neighbourhood (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar etc.)
Key Institutions Involved for Internal Security in India
Following key institutions are involved for maintenance of internal security in India:
- Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA): With an interim budget of 2,02,868.70 crore (2024-25), MHA is the nodal agency for internal security. It has several departments and agencies.
- A Special Secretary level officer is the in-charge of internal security.
- Intelligence Bureau (IB): It is the premier agency for collecting intelligence on internal security matters.
- The Director of Intelligence Bureau (DIB) is conventionally the senior most police officer in the country. He has direct access to the Minister of Home Affairs, the Prime Minister and the National Security Advisor.
- Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW): It is the primary agency responsible for collecting intelligence for national security from external sources.
- IB and R&AW work in coordination with each other as also with other agencies.
- The National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO): It is the nodal agency for technical Intelligence. Its inputs are used by other agencies.
- National Investigation Agency (NIA): It has emerged as the Government of India’s leading federal agency for investigating terrorism in the country.
- It investigates terrorism cases with cross-state connections, illicit trafficking and other activities.
- The National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Act 2019 broadens the NIA’s jurisdiction and now has the authority to investigate offences committed outside India that are subject to international treaties and domestic laws of other countries.
- It also provides for the establishment of Special Courts for the trial of scheduled offences.
- It allows the agency to investigate the following new offences as well:
- Human trafficking
- Counterfeit currency or bank notes related offences
- Sale or manufacture of prohibited arms
- Offences under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908
- Cyber-terrorism
- The Multi-Agency Centre (MAC): It has been strengthened by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to allow it to operate 24×7 for the collection and sharing of security-related information.
- The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID): It was created as an IT platform to assist the security and law-enforcement agencies to counter terror for national security.
- To monitor terror activities and serve national security interests, the NATGRID links several databases including railways, police, stolen vehicles, immigration, etc.
- Combating Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Cell: The CFT Cell at the MHA deals with the policy matters on CFT and FICN (Fake Indian Currency Notes).
- At State Level: States have raised Special Forces, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) to deal with terrorism incidents, and also Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) & National Security Guards (NSG) have been stationed at various locations to assist the States.
Earlier State Response for Internal Security in India
Over the years, the governments have paid a great deal of attention to dealing with internal security challenges.
- Focus on Counterterrorism: The government’s focus on counterterrorism has grown enormously since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
- NIA was created in 2008 after the Mumbai terror attack the same year.
- Opportunities in J&K: The abolition of article 370 has been a landmark development in J&K. It has created opportunities in the region where the incidents of terrorism have gone down.
- Transformation in Northeast: By a combination of prudent policies aimed at fighting insurgents, focusing on development, reaching agreements with insurgent groups and deft diplomacy, the government has been able to bring insurgency in the Northeast under control and usher in a new era of development.
- Combat to Left-Wing Insurgency: A well thought out strategy, improved coordination, focus on development, and building of the capabilities of the CAPF in dealing with extremism has yielded positive results in dealing with Left Wing Insurgency.
- Focus on Maritime Security: Maritime security, particularly coastal security, has received great attention in recent years, particularly since the Mumbai attacks.
- Attention has been given to fishermen and improving their livelihoods, strengthening coastal police, strengthening interstate coordination, improving the capabilities of the Indian Coast Guard, and strengthening coastal surveillance.
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Challenges to Internal Security in India
Since its independence, India has faced numerous challenges that arise from a variety of sources including insurgency, terrorism, communal tensions and organised crime. Today, the rise of social media, dark net, crypto currency has given rise to new challenges.
- Delay on Internal Security Doctrine: The National Security Advisory Board has, from time to time, worked on it and prepared drafts. For inexplicable reasons, those were never approved.
- Also, there is too much adhocism in dealing with the internal security challenges, especially when there is a change of government.
- Heavy Burden on Ministry of Home Affairs: The Ministry of Home Affairs has become much too heavy and therefore unwieldy, while internal security demands immediate attention.
- Jammu and Kashmir: The state is far from normal in spite of the Home Minister’s claim that terror incidents are down by 66% since the abrogation of Article 370. Recently, terrorists also struck at four places in the Jammu region.
- The Northeast: A Framework Agreement signed with the rebel Nagas in 2015 had raised great hopes, but these remain unfulfilled because of the NSCN (IM)’s insistence on a separate flag and constitution.
- Manipur has been a disaster. Ethnic conflicts continue to simmer with occasional outbursts of violence.
- The Home Ministry’s formation of a multi-ethnic peace committee has not been productive.
- Problems like illegal migration, drug trafficking and arms smuggling are also prevalent.
- Internal Problems with Central Armed Police Forces: With an overall strength of more than a million, they are beset with serious internal problems of unplanned expansion, haphazard deployment, inadequate training, falling standards of discipline, vague criteria for the selection of top officers, friction between cadre and All India Service officers, etc.
Way Forward
Understanding the various complex issues of internal security is important to appreciate the multifaceted nature of the internal security of India’s landscape. The internal security scenario of the country would be much better if following actions are initiated with foresight and imagination.
- Development of Internal Security Doctrine (NSD): Ideally, the country should have a NSD. All significant powers have an NSD through which they describe the internal and external challenges facing the country and prescribe the policies for dealing with them.
- If there are any problems in developing the NSD, its internal security component at least, which is simpler, could be worked out.
- Establishment of Internal Security Ministry: It is high time that a young, junior minister working in the MHA is given an independent charge of internal security. It could significantly enhance responsiveness.
- Multi-Pronged Approach for Jammu and Kashmir: The government must take early steps to reorganise the security grid, restore statehood to J&K and hold elections for the Assembly.
- Comprehensive Approach for the Northeast: The PM has called the Northeast “a piece of our heart”. It is time for the PM to take charge of the situation himself and the problems of illegal migration, drug trafficking and arms smuggling would require a comprehensive approach.
- The government should insist on rigorous implementation of the suspension of operations agreement and ensure that the rebels do not engage in extortion and forcible recruitments.
- Healing Touch for Naxal Problem: Recently, the Minister of State for Home Affairs claimed that the implementation of the “national policy and action plan” had resulted in a consistent decline in violence and shrinkage of the geographical spread of left-wing extremism’s (LWE) influence.
- Violence and the resultant deaths had declined by 73% from a high in 2010.
- With Naxals on the backfoot, it is now time for the healing touch. The government should offer them an offer of goodwill, declare a unilateral cease-fire for a month, persuade them to come to the negotiating table, address their genuine grievances, and try to mainstream them.
- Strengthening of Intelligence Agencies: The two premier central police organisations, Intelligence Bureau and the CBI, require restructuring.
- The IB was set up through an administrative order on December 23, 1887. It is high time that it is given a statutory basis, with safeguards to prevent the misuse of intelligence to bolster the party in power.
- The CBI was set up through a resolution passed on April 01, 1963, and derives the power to investigate from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
- It is an anomalous arrangement and, as recommended in the 24th report of the parliamentary committee, “the need of the hour is to strengthen the CBI in terms of legal mandate, infrastructure and resources”.
- Transformation from “Ruler’s” to “People’s Police”: The PM wants the PMO to function as People’s PMO, which requires transforming the “Ruler’s Police” into the “People’s Police”.
- It is a great opportunity for the Indian PM to create a police force that serves the people like Robert Peel, the former British PM.
- Reform in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF): To solve the emerging problems of CAPF, the government would do well to appoint a high-powered commission to go into these problems for their long-term solution.
- Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Security: As suggested by the PM himself, there is a need to set up a high-powered technology mission to recommend the adoption of latest technologies for the new challenges which the police are already facing or are likely to face in the future.
- Others: More socio-economic development, high community engagement, enhancement in capacity building, implementation of strong cyber security frameworks and protocols and international cooperation to combat cross-border terrorism, organised crime and cybercrime.
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Conclusion
Tackling internal security challenges requires a multidimensional approach. The present government is committed to dealing with security challenges, which is reflected in recent developments like dealing with anti-CAA protests with a firm hand, abolition of Article 370, banning of the Popular Front of India (PFI), zero tolerance towards terrorism etc. Special attention has been given to cybercrime, preventing atrocities against women and dealing with new age crimes.
July 4, 2024
