New Delhi: A parliamentary committee has advised the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to “fix a timeline” to expedite the evaluation and delivery of products for full operationalization of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), which is proposed to be taken up by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Robust mechanisms to track suspects and prevent terrorist attacks with real-time data and access to classified information such as immigration, banking, individual taxpayers, air and train travel.
The department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs is headed by Congress leader Anand Sharma.
The 238th report tabled in Parliament on Monday stressed the need for expediting the operations of NATGRID, stating that “the committee is committed to building a comprehensive network for intelligence inputs and access to intelligence and security agencies”. understands the importance of
“The Committee is of the view that administrative sanctions and procedural delays are hindering the progress of NATGRID and under-utilisation of funds,” the report said.
“The Committee has recommended that MHA may fix a time frame for evaluation and distribution of products for full operationalization of NATGRID so that funds can be better utilised. The Committee would like to inform about the progress made in this regard, ” he said. report good
Official sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi may soon launch NATGRID, which aims to provide “state-of-the-art technology to enhance India’s counter-terrorism capabilities”.
He said the final “synchronization and testing” of the ambitious electronic database, which was mooted after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, is being done so that it can be made live.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah last year indicated that NATGRID, which is touted as a seamless and secure database for information on terrorists, economic crimes and similar incidents, may finally see the light of the day.
Shah said during the 51st Foundation Day program, “If there was no Corona (Kovid-19), the Prime Minister would have dedicated NetGrid to the country. I hope that the Prime Minister will dedicate NetGrid to the country in some time.” The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) here on September 4 last year.
The 26/11 terrorist siege in Mumbai in 2008 exposed the shortcoming that security agencies had in place to view critical information on a real-time basis.
As per the plan in the first phase, 10 user agencies and 21 service providers will be linked to NATGRID, while in subsequent phases, around 950 additional organizations will be brought on board. In the coming years, more than 1,000 organizations will be further integrated into NATGRID.
These data sources include records related to immigration entry and exit, banking and financial transactions, and telecommunications.
Major federal agencies in the country have been authorized to access the NATGRID database.
They are Central Bureau of Investigation, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Directorate of Enforcement, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Central Board of Direct Taxes (for Income Tax Department), Cabinet Secretariat, Intelligence Bureau. Directorate General of GST Intelligence, Narcotics Control Bureau, Financial Intelligence Unit and National Investigation Agency.
The lack of quick information for intelligence and enforcement agencies was seen as a major impediment for intelligence and enforcement agencies to trace the movements of suspected US terror suspect David Headley across the country during his many visits between 2006 and 2009.
Headley had provided vital information and videos of terror hideouts to Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan-based terror group that carried out the Mumbai attacks in which 166 people, including foreigners, were killed.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had approved the Rs 3,400 crore NATGRID project back in 2010, but its work slowed down after 2012.
However, Modi, who came to power for the first time in 2014, later directed for its revival.