Home Minister charts vision for internal security, criminal justice

New Delhi, Nov 19: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, outlined a roadmap for India's internal security and criminal justice system. Speaking as the chief guest, Shah emphasised the importance of modernising law enforcement to meet evolving challenges.

The event was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) Rajiv Kumar Sharma, among other dignitaries.

Modernising India’s Criminal Justice System

Highlighting the transformative changes Shah said, “India's criminal justice system will be the most modern, scientific, and efficient in the world within the next decade.”

He outlined significant advancements, including the digitisation of judicial processes and the integration of law enforcement systems.

Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS)

All 17,000 police stations in India have been digitized and connected.

e-Courts and e-Prisons

Over 22,000 courts are linked under the e-Court system, while the e-Prisons initiative manages data for over two crore prisoners.

Data Integration Initiatives

Advanced systems like the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) and platforms like Cri-MAC and NIDAAN streamline criminal investigations.

“These reforms ensure not only efficiency but also accountability and transparency in delivering justice,” he said.

Shah called for harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to make data more actionable and impactful.

He emphasised that tools like AI can transform police operations, enabling proactive crime prevention and efficient investigations.

The Home Minister urged the Police Science Conference to prioritise organising hackathons and collaborating with AI experts to tackle contemporary challenges.

He identified five critical areas where law enforcement must stay ahead of criminal elements - tackling cybercrime effectively; preventing illegal drone usage for smuggling or espionage; strengthening border security using advanced technology; combating narcotics trade with innovative investigative methods and mitigating threats from the dark web.

Shah highlighted the significant achievements of the past decade, including the seizure of over 5.45 lakh kg narcotics worth Rs 35,000 crores – a sixfold increase compared to the previous decade.

He attributed this to a scientific overhaul of the seizure process and enhanced law enforcement efforts.