The Union Home Ministry has had a busy year in 2024, overseeing significant developments, including the introduction of modern criminal laws, the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), and efforts to manage ongoing violence in Manipur.
A major milestone was the replacement of century-old colonial laws with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, which replaced the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872. These laws, which came into effect on July 1, are designed to introduce a modern, technology-driven criminal justice system.
Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the overhaul, saying, “These laws are made by Indians, for Indians,” marking the end of colonial-era justice practices. New provisions include Zero FIR, online police complaint registration, electronic summons, and mandatory videography of crime scenes for serious offences.
In another contentious move, the CAA, which grants citizenship to persecuted religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, was implemented in March after a four-year delay. Despite protests and violence following its passage in 2019, the ministry reassured the public that it would not affect the citizenship of Indian Muslims.
Ongoing unrest in Manipur, sparked by ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, continued to challenge the government. Violence persisted despite efforts to bring both sides to the negotiating table, with over 260 deaths and thousands displaced.
In response, the government reinstated the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in November and appointed former Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla as the new governor in a bid to restore peace.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the first assembly elections in 10 years were held with minimal violence. Terror-related incidents in the region fell by over 70% since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, marking a notable improvement in security.
Efforts to reduce Naxal violence also showed progress. There was a 72% decline in Maoist-related violence and an 86% reduction in Naxal deaths since 2010. Shah reiterated the government’s commitment to making India Naxal-free by 2026.
In terms of development, the Home Ministry continued its push for the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), allocating Rs 1,050 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal to boost the infrastructure of border villages in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh.
The long-delayed Census exercise remains on hold due to the pandemic, and no new timeline has been set. Additionally, the government began efforts to rehabilitate the Bru tribal community in Tripura, following a 2020 agreement aimed at settling 6,935 families displaced during ethnic violence in Mizoram.
The year also saw the ministry take a tougher stance on NGOs involved in anti-development or radical activities, warning that such organisations could face deregistration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.
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