National Counter-Terrorism Policy

Context

On February 23, 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) unveiled PRAHAAR, India’s first comprehensive and unified national counter-terrorism policy. This landmark framework transitions India from a reactive security posture to a proactive, multi-dimensional strategy designed to neutralize modern extremist threats.

About the Policy

The PRAHAAR Framework: The policy is built upon a strategic acronym that defines its core pillars:

P – Prevention: Adopting a "vaccine-style" approach to stop radicalization and terror plots before they manifest.
R – Response: Standardizing rapid-action protocols to neutralize active threats with precision.
A – Aggregating: Unifying the intelligence and operational capabilities of the CBI, IB, State Police, and Armed Forces under a single cohesive umbrella.
H – Human Rights & Rule of Law: Striking a constitutional balance between stringent national security and the protection of individual civil liberties.
A – Attenuating: Systematically reducing the influence of extremist ideologies and minimizing the impact of existing threats.
A – Aligning: Harmonizing local enforcement efforts with international counter-terrorism laws and global best practices.
R – Recovery: Focusing on post-incident societal rebuilding and collective community engagement to foster resilience.

Key Features and Scope

Zero Tolerance Approach: The policy mandates a "zero tolerance" stance toward terrorism, explicitly decoupling terror activities from any specific religion, ethnicity, or nationality to maintain social cohesion.

Protection of Critical Infrastructure: Specialized protection protocols are established for high-value sectors, including:

Energy & Power: Nuclear installations and power grids.
Transport: Aviation, railways, and major maritime ports.
Strategic Assets: Defense facilities, space research centers, and atomic energy labs.

Modern Threat Mitigation: PRAHAAR leverages the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) to tackle 21st-century warfare, such as:

Cyber Terrorism: Protecting digital sovereignty and preventing data breaches.
Drone Warfare: Implementing anti-drone technologies against aerial incursions.
Terror Financing: Disrupting the flow of illicit funds and sleeper cell logistics.

Constitutional & Legal Framework

National Security vs. Fundamental Rights: While the policy strengthens the state’s hand, it remains subject to judicial review to ensure it does not bypass the protections offered under Article 21 (Right to Life and Liberty).
Federal Cooperation: Under the Seventh Schedule, "Public Order" is a State subject, but PRAHAAR facilitates better coordination between the Centre and States for "National Security" concerns.

Challenges in Implementation

Inter-Agency Rivalry: Overcoming traditional silos between different intelligence and police wings.
Technological Gap: Staying ahead of the rapid evolution of encrypted communication used by terror modules.
Legal Scrutiny: Ensuring that "prevention" measures do not lead to arbitrary detentions or infringement of privacy.

Way Forward

Institutional Strengthening: Expanding the reach of the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) to the district level.
Community Policing: Engaging local leaders to assist in the "Attenuating" phase of the policy to counter grassroots radicalization.
Global Collaboration: Using the "Aligning" pillar to lead international forums against cross-border state-sponsored terrorism.

Conclusion

PRAHAAR represents a paradigm shift in India's internal security architecture. By integrating intelligence, technology, and community recovery into a single policy, the government aims to create a "terrorism-free" environment that is resilient to both physical and digital incursions while upholding the democratic values of the Republic.

National Counter-Terrorism Policy