MHA Allocation Jumps 12%, Focus on Internal Security

Key allocations rose for police modernisation, border management, and forensic capabilities in internal security budget.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), responsible for the internal security of the country through its various arms, was allocated Rs 160,391.06 crores, reflecting a significant increase from Rs 143,275.90 crores allocated in the 2024-2025 budget. This represents a rise of Rs 17,115.16 crores, translating to an approximate growth of 11.94% compared to the previous fiscal year.

This significant rise in funding to enhance security apparatus reflects the BJP government's focus on strengthening internal security, modernising police forces, and enhancing border infrastructure.

An analysis of the budgetary allocation to the MHA indicates that the ministry, under Home Minister Amit Shah, considered the number two in the government, had modernisation of forces, strengthening of border infrastructure, and enhancing forensic capabilities in mind when submitting their demands to the Finance Ministry.

Apart from the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), which reports to the Prime Minister's Office, the multiple wings of MHA, including the Intelligence Bureau, are primarily responsible for detecting and neutralising both overt and covert foreign interference, which has increased in recent years.

With both Shah and Modi stressing on securing India's borders to stop infiltration and encroachment, this focus is reflected in the budget document.

The top three departments that saw the maximum rise in allocations compared to the last budget are the modernisation plan for Central Armed Police Forces with a 94.78% increase, the Border Infrastructure and Management with a 48.99% rise, and the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme with a 66.68% increase.

Among the departments, the Central Armed Police Forces' modernisation plan received Rs 352.92 crore, up from Rs 181.21 crore, marking an increase of Rs 171.71 crore, or 94.78%.