National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)
Recently the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) will strengthen its surveillance system, and provide real-time intelligence on individuals.
- NATGRID will integrate data analytics, open source intelligence tools and web-based applications to harness data for national security.
- It aims to provide intelligence and law enforcement solutions to authorized central and state agencies.
- It will collect information from airports, banks, passports, Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), National Population Register (NPR), corporate details and other sources.
- NATGRID is an attached office of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It is an integrated intelligence grid linking databases of major security agencies.
- Its establishment was proposed after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. This proposal was accepted in 2010.
- It focuses on creating a secure database and seamless exchange of information on terrorists, economic offenses and similar incidents.
- It helps in tracking suspects based on real time data. Also helps in obtaining intelligence related to immigration, banking, individual taxpayers, air and train travel.
- The NATGRID database will be available to major federal agencies including CBI, ED, IB, DRI (Directorate of Revenue Intelligence), NIA etc.
- There has been opposition to NATGRID because of the potential breach of privacy and the possibility of exposing confidential personal data.
Source – The Hindu
