Important Notes on National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)

By Dhruv Kumar|Updated : July 14th, 2020

 

Recently, National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has signed an MoU with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) to access the centralized online database on FIRs and stolen vehicles.

In this article, we will know all about NATGRID which is an important topic for all Defence and competitive exams.

About NATGRID

NATGRID is the integrated intelligence master database structure, established with the aim to counter-terrorism, connecting databases of various core security agencies under Government of India collecting comprehensive patterns procured from 21 different organizations that can be readily accessed by security agencies round the clock.

It can be accessed only by officers of 10 security agencies on a case-to-case basis for investigations into suspected cases of terrorism. Around 70 people have access.

Background

  • The 26/11 attacks on Mumbai led to the exposure of several weaknesses in India's intelligence gathering and action networks.
  • The project First conceptualized in 2009 under then Home Minister P. Chidambaram, has got a renewed push under Home Minister Amit Shah. The project aims to go live by December 31.

Significance for India

  • In a data-driven, digitized world, the big data holds immense power and potential to provide real-time tip-offs and predictive intelligence to deal with the terrorist threat.
  • It would help the security agencies to keep track of activities of a person with suspicious backgrounds. The security agencies would have access to all his/her data, and any movement by this person could be tracked with the help of this database.
  • It is an effective tool to identify and track activities of terrorists and stop them before any harm to the nation.
  • It will help to collate scattered information into a transparent, accessible, integrated grid and do away with the inefficiencies associated with information asymmetries that leads to delayed counter-terror operations.

Challenges before NATGRID 

  • Human resource – The personnel are taken from Civil Services, Central armed police force etc. on deputation and do not have their own trained personals. The Union Home Ministry has said that it wasn't able to find qualified IT professionals to fill vacant posts in the NATGRID.
  • Finance – Lack of Funds and dependence on Budegetry allocation.
  • Technology – NATGRID does not have the latest technology.
  • Federal spirit – Law and Order is a subject of state, and it is considered as encroaching on state subject.

How to make NATGRID more effective

  • To attract good talent, the government needs to offer remuneration commensurate with that of the private sector to attract the most qualified professionals.
  • If states are to actively contribute towards updating the NATGRID database in the spirit of cooperative federalism, they should be among the ones who benefit from it.

Conclusion 

In its present form, NATGRID is facing many challenges, due to bureaucratic red tape and fundamental flaws in the system. There is a need for the government to take effective measures because NATGRID has the potential to become India's go-to grid for a 360-degree perspective to prevent and contain crises.

NDA 2020: An Express Course, Click Here

AFCAT II 2020: A Comprehensive Course in English, Click Here

More from us

Important Study Notes for Defence Exams

Defence Specific Notes

Weekly Current Affairs

Current Affairs Quiz

SSB Interview Tips

Thanks

The Most Comprehensive Exam Prep App

Comments

write a comment

Follow us for latest updates