India's internal security challenges to remain dynamic due to its neighbourhood: Amit Shah

Shah also urged the police to support the implementation of over 300 Central and state schemes in Left-Wing Extremism-hit areas, promoting inclusive development as a tool against insurgency.

Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday emphasised that India’s internal security challenges will remain dynamic due to the country’s complex geopolitical neighbourhood.

Addressing the concluding session of the eighth National Security Strategies Conference (NSSC), Shah said the government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has demonstrated strong political will and reaffirmed a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism, most recently exemplified by Operation Sindoor.

Shah urged state police forces and Central security agencies to adopt the motto of “Suraksha, Sajagta, Samanvay” (Security, Alertness and Coordination), stating that India’s rapid economic growth brings parallel internal security challenges that must be addressed proactively.

“The Modi government has resolved several long-standing internal security issues across states. As India rises economically and technologically, we must remain more vigilant and tackle problems with greater awareness,” he said.

He described the NSSC as a crucial platform for senior officers to mentor younger ones, helping them understand national security threats and solutions. Shah stressed the need for Indian forces to aim for global standards and called for the creation of a reliable real-time data-sharing ecosystem among all agencies.

Highlighting India’s ascent as a global economic and technological power, he warned that increased prominence would attract greater security threats. He urged the formation of unified teams comprising Central and state agencies to develop, implement, and monitor security strategies, while involving young officers in brainstorming solutions.

Shah underlined the importance of familiarising younger personnel with key national databases like NATGRID, NIDAAN, iMoT, and CBI’s fugitive database, suggesting their integration into all training modules.

Calling the next 5–10 years “critical” for India’s development and security, Shah lauded achievements in combating Left-Wing Extremism, insurgency in the Northeast, and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. He called on police chiefs to apply a similar integrated approach for the effective implementation of the three new criminal laws and to intensify the war on narcotics.

He advocated a dual-level strategy — both top-down and grassroots-up — to dismantle drug cartels and focus on extraditing international narco-offenders. Shah directed that drug eradication be a priority over the next three years to realise a ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ (Drug-Free India).

Stressing the importance of police stations as intelligence hubs, he called for building credible platforms for real-time information exchange down to the grassroots.

Shah reiterated the police's primary duty: to protect citizens’ lives, property and dignity. He encouraged agencies to aim for excellence and foster healthy competition to effectively confront internal security threats.

On coastal security, Shah highlighted the need to secure small seaports along maritime borders and enhance state police capacity to prevent infiltration and smuggling.

The Home Minister also reviewed anti-terror initiatives and instructed agencies to pursue strict legal action against repeat offenders.

Earlier in the day, Shah paid homage to the martyrs on Kargil Vijay Diwas and commended the armed forces and BSF for their role in Operation Sindoor.