Why in News?
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In December 2025, the Union Government finalized India’s first-ever National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy to unify anti-terror responses across all States and central agencies.
Core Objectives of the Policy
- Standardized Template: It provides a uniform protocol for all State Police and Anti-Terrorist Squads (ATS) to ensure a “Whole of the Government” response.
- Proactive Defense: The strategy shifts India’s stance from reactive investigation to a pre-emptive and preventive framework (evidenced by recent missions like Operation Sindoor).
- Legal Integration: It aligns with the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which for the first time provides a clear legal definition of “Terrorist Act.”
- Inter-Agency Synergy: The policy formalizes the role of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as the central hub for coordinating with the NSG and state units.
Addressing Emerging Internal Security Threats
The policy specifically identifies and creates countermeasures for modern “invisible” threats:- Digital Radicalisation: It targets online recruitment and extremist propaganda spread through encrypted digital platforms and social media.
- Open Border Vulnerabilities: It prioritizes the security of the Indo-Nepal border, preventing it from being misused as a transit point for terror modules (e.g., Khalistani networks).
- Identity & Finance Fraud: New protocols address Aadhaar spoofing and the misuse of foreign-funded conversion networks that aid terror activities.
- Technology Misuse: It includes a framework for countering the use of drones for cross-border smuggling of weapons and narcotics.


