PRAHAAR: National Counter-terror Policy

Syllabus: GS3/Internal Security 

In News

• The Union Home Minister inaugurated a conference on ‘PRAHAAR – CT Policy and Strategy’ in New Delhi.

PRAHAAR

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has unveiled ‘PRAHAAR’ as India’s first comprehensive National Counter Terrorism Policy & Strategy on 23rd February, 2026.
• It frames India’s counter-terrorism approach within a broad threat landscape that includes cross-border terrorism, global extremist networks (like Al-Qaeda and ISIS), and modern technological risks such as drones, encrypted communication, cyber attacks, crypto-financing, and CBRNED threats. 
• It proposes a seven-pillar strategy focusing on intelligence-led prevention, rapid coordinated response, capacity building, human rights compliance, de-radicalisation, international cooperation, and societal recovery and resilience.
• It mainly consolidates existing institutions and laws (like NIA, NSG, UAPA, CAPFs) into a single national framework rather than creating new structures. 

Importance 

• First comprehensive national policy: Establishes a unified framework for counter-terrorism across agencies.
• Multi-domain protection: Covers threats via land, air, water, and cyberspace, safeguarding critical sectors like power, railways, aviation, ports, defence, space, and atomic energy.
• Zero tolerance principle: Reinforces India’s stance that terrorism cannot be linked to any religion, ethnicity, or nationality.
• Capacity building: Enhances coordination among intelligence, police, and paramilitary forces.
• Global alignment: Strengthens India’s role in shaping international counter-terrorism cooperation.

Emerging Challenges and Concerns of India’s Counter-Terror Architecture 

• Cross-border terrorism: Persistent infiltration and support from state-sponsored groups in neighbouring regions.
• Cyber-enabled threats: Nation-states and criminal hackers targeting India’s digital infrastructure.
  •  Dark-web platforms allow anonymous purchase of weapons, explosives and stolen data, complicating intelligence tracking. 
• Drone warfare: Increasing use of drones for smuggling arms and explosives, especially in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
• Organised crime-terror nexus: Terror outfits collaborating with criminal networks for logistics and recruitment.
• Radicalisation: Online propaganda and sleeper cells of groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS attempting to incite violence.
  • Security agencies warn extremists increasingly use AI-generated propaganda and automated bot networks for radicalisation campaigns.
• Limited specialised counter-terror training capacity: Many police forces still lack advanced training in cyber intelligence, drone detection and digital surveillance technologies. 

Way Ahead 

• Strengthen intelligence integration: Expand real-time data sharing across central and state agencies.
• Cyber defence upgrades: Invest in AI-driven monitoring systems and indigenous cyber-security solutions.
• Drone countermeasures: Deploy anti-drone technologies and stricter border surveillance.
• Community resilience: Promote awareness campaigns against radicalisation, involving civil society and local governance.
• International cooperation: Deepen collaboration with UN and global partners to combat financing, arms smuggling, and extremist propaganda.
• Legal reforms: Update anti-terror laws to address emerging technologies while ensuring judicial oversight.
• Victim support systems: Institutionalise rehabilitation and compensation frameworks for victims of terror.

Conclusion 

• PRAHAAR is India’s first institutionalised anti-terror doctrine, combining prevention, proportionate response, and resilience. 
• The effectiveness of PRAHAAR will depend on its implementation at the grassroots level through clear state-wise guidelines, capacity-building of police and ATS units, and strong coordination across agencies for intelligence sharing, policing, and community engagement.
• It also requires monitoring mechanisms to ensure integration of socio-economic and “whole-of-society” measures into security planning.

Source :IE