NEW DELHI — Union Home Minister Amit Shah called for a major technological upgrade in India’s security apparatus on Monday, directing law enforcement heads and state police chiefs to incorporate AI-driven intelligence analysis into daily operations to combat emerging national security threats.
Inaugurating the ninth two-day National Security Strategies Conference (NSSC)-2026 in New Delhi, Shah instructed top officials—including State and Union Territory Directors General of Police (DGPs)—to leverage artificial intelligence to process complex security data available on the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) platform. He urged the agencies to establish concrete Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) based on these AI insights to anticipate hazards, identify actionable patterns, and execute timely responses.
Highlighting the dynamic nature of cross-border and internal security challenges, the Home Minister called for a strict crackdown on illegal infiltration and instructed federal and state bodies to align their operational strategies. He emphasized that an integrated, technology-first approach is crucial for maintaining internal stability.
Beyond technological integration, Shah laid out key measures to bolster the nation's legal and counter-terrorism framework. He urged agencies to focus heavily on training personnel under the Ministry of Home Affairs' PRAHAAR scheme, streamline extradition procedures for foreign-based fugitives, and actively utilize legal provisions allowing for trials in absentia. To ensure higher conviction rates in terror cases, Shah called for enhanced synergy among investigating agencies when filing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The two-day conference, held annually in a hybrid setup since 2021 per directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, brings together top policy-makers, domain specialists, and field-level officers to address ground-level operational challenges.
Prior to opening the event, the Home Minister paid tribute to fallen Intelligence Bureau personnel, laying a wreath at the Martyrs' Column in memory of their service to the nation.
Day one of the summit addressed primary concerns such as counter-terrorism operations, data fusion through the MAC, cybercrime mitigation, illegal migration detection, and counter-strategies against proxy warfare. The remaining sessions are slated to cover emerging security domains, including countermeasures against illegal drone activities, blue economy security, information warfare, and national bio-security frameworks.
