Subject: Internal Security

India's porous borders and increasing trans-border migration pose multifaceted challenges to national security, requiring a comprehensive approach to address both push and pull factors while strengthening border management systems.

Security Challenges of Illegal Migration

• Direct Security Threats: Illegal migrants often become conduits for anti-national activities, with recent data showing 77 infiltration attempts in 2021 and 27 incidents in 2022, resulting in 24 infiltrators being neutralized.

• Law and Order Issues: Involvement in criminal activities like human trafficking, drug smuggling, and document forgery, particularly in states bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar, threatens internal stability.

• Socio-Economic Impact: Creates pressure on limited resources, leads to demographic changes, and affects local employment opportunities, particularly in border states.

Factors Driving Illegal Migration

• Push Factors:

  • Political persecution and ethnic conflicts in neighboring countries.
  • Economic disparities and lack of opportunities in source countries.
  • Environmental disasters and climate change impacts.

• Pull Factors:

  • Better economic opportunities and living standards in India.
  • Porous borders and existing diaspora networks.
  • Post-Covid rural-to-urban migration trends showing increased mobility patterns.

Strategies to Curb Illegal Migration

• Technological Solutions:

  • Implementation of Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS).
  • Deployment of advanced surveillance systems including human-detection radars, seismic sensors, and thermal imaging.
  • Integration of smart fencing and high-resolution cameras for better border monitoring.

• Administrative Measures:

  • Strengthening border security forces and addressing manpower shortages.
  • Enhanced coordination between various security agencies.
  • Implementation of biometric identification systems for better tracking.

• Diplomatic Initiatives:

  • Bilateral agreements with neighboring countries for managing migration.
  • Regional cooperation frameworks for addressing root causes.
  • International collaboration for tackling human trafficking networks.

The comprehensive strategy to address illegal migration must combine robust border management through initiatives like CIBMS with diplomatic engagement and socio-economic development in border regions, while ensuring humanitarian considerations are not compromised.