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UPSC » Daily News Analysis ‘National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)’ : 8 December

Daily News Analysis ‘National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)’ : 8 December

Table of Content

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.