The Centre is committed to the progressive and phased implementation of PRAHAAR, India’s first comprehensive National Counter-Terrorist Policy and Strategy, the Ministry of Home Affairs informed Parliament on Wednesday.
Unveiled on February 23, PRAHAAR seeks to establish a national framework for preventing and responding to terrorism and radicalisation through coordinated “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approaches.
Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that the strategy is built around seven pillars, including preventing terror attacks, ensuring swift and proportionate responses, strengthening coordination among government agencies, protecting human rights and the rule of law, addressing conditions that facilitate radicalisation, supporting international counter-terrorism efforts, and building recovery and resilience.
Rai said PRAHAAR aims to shift India from a reactive security approach to a proactive counter-terrorism doctrine. It envisages real-time intelligence sharing through the Multi Agency Centre, protection of critical infrastructure and a coordinated response involving state police and specialised central forces such as the National Security Guard.
The strategy also places emphasis on technology-driven counter-terrorism measures and community-based efforts to prevent radicalisation.
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Focus on terror financing, oversight
PRAHAAR also seeks to strengthen efforts against terror financing by tracing cryptocurrency wallets, targeting dark-web fundraising networks and enabling central agencies to seize assets linked to such activities, Rai said.
The strategy is aligned with Financial Action Task Force standards and seeks to use international treaties to counter cross-border and state-sponsored terror financing networks.
On its implementation timeline, Rai said the government would follow a phased approach, prioritising immediate institutional and systems integration while assessing performance through multiple layers of oversight.
Regular monitoring and assessment will form part of the implementation process. The annual Anti-Terror Conference organised by the National Investigation Agency under the MHA will serve as one of the mechanisms for reviewing and strengthening the framework.
The conference brings together officials from law enforcement and intelligence agencies, security forces, policymakers and legal experts to assess existing counter-terror measures, identify operational and administrative gaps, and recommend policy, legal and institutional reforms.
The government said the approach would also promote greater coordination, capacity building and preparedness as India responds to an evolving security environment.
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