Context:
Recently, The Union Home Minister inaugurated the PRAHAAR – National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy conference in New Delhi on 28 September 2026 and launched a new Extradition Portal to synergise and expedite efforts to bring fugitives back to India. The conference focused on strengthening PRAHAAR and ensuring its implementation down to the police-station level.
What is Terrorism?
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- Terrorism broadly refers to the systematic use or threat of violence and intimidation to create fear and achieve political, ideological or other objectives. Under Section 113 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, a terrorist act includes acts intended to threaten India's unity, integrity, sovereignty, security or economic security, or to strike terror through explosives, firearms, hazardous substances or other means.
- Terrorism differs from insurgency: insurgency generally involves an organised challenge to state authority, often with territorial or political objectives, whereas terrorism primarily uses violence and fear as instruments of coercion.
- Terrorism broadly refers to the systematic use or threat of violence and intimidation to create fear and achieve political, ideological or other objectives. Under Section 113 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, a terrorist act includes acts intended to threaten India's unity, integrity, sovereignty, security or economic security, or to strike terror through explosives, firearms, hazardous substances or other means.
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About PRAHAAR: India's Counter-Terrorism Framework
India's National Counter-Terrorism Policy & Strategy (PRAHAAR) was released by the Ministry of Home Affairs in February 2026. It adopts a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach and provides a proactive, intelligence-led framework.
Seven Pillars of PRAHAAR:
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- Prevention – preventing terrorist attacks and protecting citizens.
- Response – ensuring swift and proportionate action.
- Aggregating Internal Capacities – strengthening inter-agency coordination.
- Human Rights & Rule of Law – ensuring lawful counter-terrorism.
- Attenuating Conditions – addressing radicalisation and conditions conducive to terrorism.
- Aligning International Efforts – strengthening global cooperation.
- Recovery & Resilience – building societal resilience through a whole-of-society approach.
- Prevention – preventing terrorist attacks and protecting citizens.
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New Extradition Portal:
The new portal seeks to improve coordination and expedite the process of bringing fugitives from foreign countries back to India. The government has also called upon State Police forces to establish dedicated teams working with Central agencies. According to the government's reported figures, 288 fugitive criminals were brought back to India from 36 countries between 2019 and 2026.
Institutional & Legal Architecture:
India's counter-terrorism architecture includes the NIA, Multi-Agency Centre (MAC), State Police/ATS, MHA's Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalization Division, and mechanisms for combating terror financing. Key legislation includes the UAPA, NIA Act, NSA and BNS.
Emerging Challenges:
India faces cross-border terrorism, radicalisation through digital platforms, encrypted communication, dark-web activities, cryptocurrency-based terror financing and potential CBRN threats. The MHA strategy also stresses technology, international cooperation and capacity building of State counter-terrorism units.
Way Forward:
Effective implementation requires Centre-State coordination, real-time intelligence sharing, stronger State ATS capabilities, disruption of terror financing, international legal cooperation and technology-enabled investigation, while maintaining human rights and due process.
