Intelligence Bureau's District-Level Officers To Join Multi-Agency Centre Meetings

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed the Intelligence Bureau’s (IB) district-level officers to be part of meetings of the multi-agency centre (MAC), a crucial component of India's counter-terrorism strategy.

As per a report by Indian Express, the goal of this change is to improve the system for sharing intelligence and to make real-time updates more practical.

Members of the state-level officials responsible for sharing regional intelligence attended MAC meetings in the past. The government, however, decided to include district-level officers with the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) in these meetings after occurrences such as the ethnic riots in Manipur.

In major states, where district-level officials have trouble attending such sessions due to travel distances, an official from the intelligence apparatus noted that this technique tries to bridge the gap in intelligence sharing.

Officers at the district level will now have more open communication with higher-ups at headquarters and field personnel.

The additional funding for this programme reflects the government's dedication to bolstering national security. The Intelligence Bureau's budget increased to Rs 3,418 crore from Rs 3,168 crore, and the National Intelligence Grid's budget increased from Rs 87.77 crore to Rs 200.52 crore.

Officers in the states have been tasked with conducting site surveys for the installation of specialised software that would allow them to attend virtual meetings and contribute effectively. The government's proactive stance reflects its commitment to fostering more cooperation and communication between authorities fighting terrorism and illegal substances.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah last year pushed for more communication and collaboration between anti-terrorism and anti-drug organisations at the state level. Underscoring the nation's dedication to securing its borders, he also emphasised the necessity for increased coastal security surveillance, particularly in the smallest and most isolated ports.

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