India’s annual National Security Strategies Conference has widened its policy agenda beyond conventional counter-terrorism, bringing intelligence coordination, cybercrime, drones, information warfare, narcotics and biosecurity into the same two-day review.
Home Minister Amit Shah opened the ninth conference in New Delhi on 24 August. The hybrid meeting brought together more than 850 participants, including the Union Home Secretary, deputy national security advisers, heads of central armed police and security organisations, state and Union Territory police chiefs, field officers and specialist experts.
Turning intelligence holdings into operational decisions
A central theme was the Multi Agency Centre, the platform used to exchange intelligence among agencies. Shah called for artificial-intelligence analysis of information held on its systems to help develop standard operating procedures for different security threats.
The proposal raises two linked tests. Better analysis can help identify patterns across jurisdictions and large volumes of reporting, but automated tools are only as reliable as the data, oversight and human review around them. Any operational use must maintain clear responsibility for decisions, lawful access controls and protection against false associations.
A broader threat map
First-day discussions covered counter-terrorism, narcotics policy, illegal migration, cybercrime and what the government described as proxy warfare. The Home Minister also sought faster action against fugitives, use of trial-in-absentia provisions where legally available, integrated investigation of cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and tighter measures against infiltration.
The second-day agenda included threats from unmanned aerial systems, protection of the blue economy, information warfare and the need for a biosecurity framework. Grouping these subjects in one forum reflects the overlap between police work, intelligence, technology regulation, public health preparedness and maritime policy.
The conference has been held annually in hybrid form since 2021 to connect national leadership with officers working at field level. Its value will depend on what follows: published policy changes where disclosure is possible, training that reaches state and district units, interoperable systems and measurable improvements in investigation and response. A conference can align priorities; implementation determines whether it strengthens public security.
