National intelligence grid gains traction as Central agencies, police scour for information, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• NATGRID, a platform providing real-time access to government and private databases for police and security agencies, is receiving approximately 45,000 requests monthly.
• Conceptualized after the 2009 Mumbai attacks, NATGRID became operational last year and is now accessible to Superintendent of Police-rank officers.
• The Union Home Ministry encourages States to utilize NATGRID for accessing datasets, including driving licenses, Aadhaar details, airline data, bank records, and social media information.
• In 2024, India recorded over 20.41 lakh cybersecurity incidents, the highest since 2020, prompting enhanced data security measures for NATGRID.

Detailed Insights:

• NATGRID aims to consolidate data access for security agencies, eliminating the need to seek information from multiple sources separately.
• During a conference chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Raipur, law enforcement agencies were urged to increase their utilization of NATGRID in all investigations.
• Originally conceived under P. Chidambaram and gaining momentum under Home Minister Amit Shah in 2019, NATGRID streamlines data sharing among security agencies and State police.
• Despite being designed for real-time data access, some State police officials have reported delays and time-consuming processes when using the NATGRID platform.
• The platform maintains user confidentiality and does not require an FIR registration to access information, facilitating intelligence gathering and investigative processes.

Key Concepts Involved:

• NATGRID: A centralized database platform providing security agencies with real-time access to various government and private data.
• FIR (First Information Report): A written document prepared by the police when they receive information about the commission of a cognizable offense.
• Aadhaar: A 12-digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India.