Why in News?
- NATGRID is processing about 45,000 real-time data requests every month, and State police have been asked to scale up its use in investigations.
What is NATGRID?
- The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) is a secure digital platform that enables real-time access to multiple government and private databases.
- It is designed to support counter-terrorism, crime detection, and intelligence gathering.
- The platform links databases of various ministries and departments for investigative use.
- It was conceptualised in 2009 after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks to strengthen intelligence coordination.

Agencies with Access
- Initially, NATGRID access was limited to 10 central agencies, including IB, RAW, NIA, ED, FIU, NCB, and DRI.
- Access has now been extended to State police at the Superintendent of Police (SP) level.
- This expansion aims to improve Centre–State coordination in law enforcement.
- The move reflects reliance on technology-driven policing across India.
Nature of Databases Integrated
- NATGRID provides access to Aadhaar details, driving licence records, airline travel data, and bank records.
- It also includes social media account information relevant to investigations.
- The system allows agencies to cross-link data instantly to detect patterns.
- This integration helps investigators “join the dots” across multiple data trails in real time.
Role in Cybersecurity and Internal Security
- India recorded over 20.41 lakh cybersecurity incidents in 2024, the highest since 2020.
- NATGRID is seen as a critical tool to counter cybercrime and terrorism.
- The government is strengthening data security and cyber protection mechanisms around the platform.
- It supports proactive intelligence generation, not just post-crime investigation.
Advantages of NATGRID for Investigations
- NATGRID eliminates the need to approach multiple agencies separately for data.
- Data can be accessed without mandatory registration of an FIR, allowing early-stage intelligence gathering.
- It ensures confidentiality of the user and secure access protocols.
- It speeds up crime detection, surveillance, and intelligence analysis.

