Prahaar

Key Highlights:

• PRAHAAR, India's first comprehensive National Counter Terrorism Policy & Strategy, was unveiled by the Ministry of Home Affairs on February 23, 2026.
• The policy establishes a national framework for preventing and responding to terrorist activities and radicalization through "whole of government" and "whole of society" approaches.
• It shifts India from a reactive to a proactive security stance, formalizing real-time intelligence sharing via the Multi Agency Centre (MAC).
• PRAHAAR integrates cutting-edge technology, upholds the Rule of Law, and implements community-collaborative counter-radicalization modules.
• The strategy actively counters terror financing by tracing crypto wallets, choking dark web crowdsourcing, and aligning with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards.
• An Annual ‘Anti-Terror Conference (ATC)’ by the NIA under the MHA will review and strengthen the counter-terrorism strategy.

Detailed Insights:

• The policy is built upon seven pillars, including prevention, swift and proportionate responses, and attenuating conditions conducive to terrorism.
• It emphasizes aggregating internal capacities for synergy and aligning international efforts to counter terrorism.
• The strategy ensures a swift, coordinated chain of command between State agencies/Police and Specialized Central Forces like the National Security Guard (NSG).
• Implementation will be progressive and phased, prioritizing immediate institutional and systems integration with layered oversight mechanisms.
• The Anti-Terror Conference (ATC) serves as a crucial platform for law enforcement, intelligence, and security officials to assess effectiveness and recommend reforms.

Key Concepts Involved:

• PRAHAAR: India's first comprehensive National Counter Terrorism Policy & Strategy, unveiled in 2026.
• Multi Agency Centre (MAC): A common platform for real-time intelligence sharing among various Indian security agencies.
• Financial Action Task Force (FATF): An intergovernmental organization that sets international standards to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.
• National Investigation Agency (NIA): India's central agency mandated to investigate and prosecute offenses related to terrorism.