India unveils PRAHAAR: Key highlights of nation’s first comprehensive counter-terrorism policy

The Union Government on Monday unveiled "PRAHAAR", the nation’s first comprehensive counter-terrorism policy. This multi-layered strategy, spearheaded by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), cements a "zero tolerance" stance against extremist violence. It aims to systematically deny terrorists, their financiers, and their supporters any access to funds, weaponry, or safe havens.

The policy is built upon seven strategic pillars: prevention, responses, aggregating internal capacities, human rights and "Rule of Law"-based processes, attenuating conditions conducive to terrorism (including radicalisation), aligning international efforts, and building recovery and resilience through a "whole-of-society" approach.

India’s principled approach remains clear. The document states: "There has been a history of sporadic instability in the immediate neighbourhood of India, which has often given rise to ungoverned spaces. Besides, a few countries in the region have sometimes used terrorism as an instrument of State policy". Despite these challenges, the policy maintains that "India does not link terrorism to any specific religion, ethnicity, nationality or civilisation".

A multi-layered shield for national security

India’s counter-terrorism response is now strictly "intelligence-guided". Central to this is the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) and the Joint Task Force on Intelligence (JTFI) within the Intelligence Bureau (IB). These platforms facilitate real-time sharing of inputs across the country to neutralise threats before they manifest.

The strategy acknowledges that India faces risks across air, land, and water. Consequently, border guarding forces and immigration authorities are being equipped with state-of-the-art tools to secure these frontiers. In the event of an attack, the local police act as the first responders, supported by specialised State forces and the National Security Guard (NSG), which serves as the nodal national counter-terror force.

Efficiency is the priority. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and State Police Agencies handle investigations, with the policy emphasising high prosecution rates as a primary deterrent.

Combatting the digital and technological frontier

A significant portion of PRAHAAR addresses the evolving technological landscape that offers terrorists a "cloak of invisibility". The policy identifies that "technological advancements like encryption, dark web, crypto wallets, etc. have allowed these groups to operate anonymously".

The threat is not merely digital. Counter-terrorism agencies are tasked with "disrupting/intercepting terrorist efforts to access and use CBRNED (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive, Digital) material". Furthermore, the misuse of drones and robotics for lethal purposes by both state and non-state actors is a primary concern, especially as criminal hackers and nation-states continue to target India through sophisticated cyber-attacks.

Law enforcement agencies are now mandated to proactively disrupt online networks used for communication, recruitment, and the "glorification of jihad". This extends to breaking the nexus between illegal arms syndicates and terrorist groups.

Strengthening the rule of law and social resilience

The PRAHAAR policy stresses that Indian laws, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita codes, must adhere to the "Rule of Law". It ensures that "multiple levels of legal redressal are available to any accused through an elaborate infrastructure of justice system".

To stop the cycle of violence, the government is addressing the "conditions enabling terrorism". This includes tackling poverty and unemployment in vulnerable communities through government schemes to ensure inimical elements cannot exploit these hardships. De-radicalisation programmes are being introduced in prisons, and community leaders, NGOs, and moderate preachers are being engaged to spread awareness.

On the global stage, India is intensifying its use of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) and extradition arrangements to indict radical entities and deport fugitives. The policy concludes that "national actions, coupled with international and regional cooperation, are key elements in addressing trans-national terrorism