The gradual transformation of the Home Ministry, Pg 6

From Crisis Ministry to Reform-Focused Ministry

• Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) shifting from reactive crisis management to a strategic reform-based model.

• Focus now on:

  • Modernising police and CAPFs

  • Improving intelligence and disaster management

  • Coordinating inter-agency responses (MAC, NIA, NCB)

Legislative and Structural Overhaul

• Key legislative reforms:

  • UAPA, TADA, POTA, NIA Act

  • 2023: Recast of Indian criminal laws, e.g., BNS, BNSS, BSA

• Emphasis on border infrastructure, technology integration, and duty to share intelligence.

Institutional Modernisation

• Rising budget for paramilitary forces (from ₹23,000 crore in 2013–14 to ₹37,000 crore in 2023–24).

• Restructuring of security forces and separation of MHA units (e.g., NCB, Disaster Management).

Security Focus Areas

• Kashmir, Northeast, and Left-Wing Extremism dominate policy.

• Dilution of Article 370, coordination of CAPFs, and push for data-driven governance underline the transformation.

Analysis & Way Forward

• MHA must balance centralised command with state-level coordination.

• Future reforms should target federal integration, forensic capacity, and intelligence-sharing ecosystems.

Mains Mock Question:

"Evaluate the transformation of the Ministry of Home Affairs from a crisis-response body to a reform-driven institution. What areas require further attention for robust internal security governance?"