Ministry Of Home Affairs

Govt revises FCRA penalties, tightens rules for foreign-funded NGOs

The home ministry has revised the compounding penalties for a number of offences under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010, involving the receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions by non-governmental organisations, according to a gazette notification. The orders were notified by the ministry on Monday under powers conferred by section 41(1) of the Act. The penalty for defraying foreign contributions beyond 20 per cent of the contributions received for administrative expenses, in contravention of section 8 of the Act, will be Rs 1 lakh or 5 per cent of the amount spent beyond the limit, whichever is higher, the notification said. The utilisation of foreign contribution in speculative activities, in contravention of section 8(1) of the Act read with rule 4 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011, will now attract a penalty of Rs 1 lakh or 30 per cent of the amount invested in such activities, whichever is higher. In addition, 100 per cent of the

Govt 'proactively monitoring' Telegram over concerns about illegal content

The Indian government said in the report it is concerned about Telegram's privacy features, which allow users to interact without needing to reveal a phone number, making identity detection difficult

Haldia port in Bengal designated as 41st immigration checkpost in India

The Union home ministry has designated Haldia seaport in West Bengal as an immigration checkpost making it the 41st such seaport in county, according to a gazette notification on Monday. Last year in September, the Ministry designated 34 sea and river ports as immigration ports. The Ministry issued the orders using it powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 (13 of 2025).

Centre amends travel, stay rules for foreigners in Rajasthan's border areas

The Centre has amended the Immigration and Foreigners Order, 2025, updating the list of protected areas in Rajasthan where foreign nationals may require special authorisation to travel or stay. The gazette notification, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on June 18, updated the schedule of protected areas across border districts of Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Sriganganagar, Barmer, Phalodi, and Jalore. The amendment also incorporates Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders into the regulatory framework by defining the category. The revised schedule includes numerous tehsils in the districts located close to the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan. The order exempts city limits of key towns, such as Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Barmer and Sanchore, as well as major tourist destinations in the Jaisalmer region, such as Sam, Kuldhara, Lodrava, and Bada Bagh. "The protected areas specified in the above table shall not apply to the following areas, namely: The peripheral areas of cities, towns a

Focus on borders: The changing narrative on demographic challenges

The Centre's narrative on demographic challenges has evolved to flagging illegal migration in border states from citing population explosion in a community, writes Archis Mohan

Delhi Police to reserve 20% constable posts for ex-Agniveers: MHA

Delhi Police will reserve 20 per cent of constable (executive) posts for former Agniveers, with exemptions from the physical efficiency test and relaxation in the upper age limit, according to a Ministry of Home Affairs notification. The move comes as part of amendments to the Delhi Police (Appointment and Recruitment) Rules, 1980, notified on Friday, formalising the force's recruitment policy in line with the Centre's broader plan to absorb Agniveers into security forces after their four-year tenure in the armed forces. Detailed procedures for conducting recruitment tests, including written examinations and physical measurements, will be issued separately by the Commissioner of Police. As per the notification, ex-Agniveers will get a three-year relaxation in the prescribed upper age limit for recruitment to the post of constable (executive), which currently stands at 18-25 years. Additionally, candidates from the first batch of the Agniveer scheme will be eligible for a further ...

SC bins plea against MHA circular on Vande Mataram, terms it 'vague'

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea against a home ministry circular on singing of national song Vande Mataram at official events, saying that a directive was not mandatory. A bench consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi termed the plea filed by one Muhammed Sayeed Noori as "premature" and based on "vague apprehension of discrimination". Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for Noori, said they respect every religion in the country, but if people are compelled to sing the song irrespective of their religion and faith, some may find it a compulsion to participate in the "social demonstration of loyalty". Justice Bagchi asked if the circular specified any penal consequences for not singing the national song or if any person had been removed from the congregation for not singing it. "Penalty is there in case of disruption," Hegde said, "While there may be no legal sanction, there is always a huge burden for ..

Orissa HC asks MHA to frame uniform policy on freezing bank accounts

Orissa High Court asks the Ministry of Home Affairs to frame a uniform national policy and SOP for freezing bank accounts during criminal investigations

Centre seeks response from WB govt on protocol lapses at President event

Amid a row over "lapses" at President Droupad Murmu's event in West Bengal, the Centre has sought a response from the state government by 5 pm on Sunday over the "violations" of the rules related to protocol, venue and route arrangements during the visit, sources said. In a letter to West Bengal chief secretary, the Union home secretary has asked him to furnish a response on the violations of the 'Blue Book' rules of protocol, venue and route arrangements. The 'Blue Book' is a confidential document which lists out rules for the security and protocol for the President, Vice-President and the prime minister and their families. President Murmu on Saturday expressed dismay over a low turnout at a tribal community event near Bagdogra airport, and questioned the decision to shift the venue from Bidhannagar. She also noted the absence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her ministers during her visit. Highly placed sources said the communique sent to the West Bengal chief .

Home ministry allots 50 companies of CAPF to poll-bound Tamil Nadu

The Ministry of Home Affairs has allotted an initial 50 companies of the CAPF to Tamil Nadu as a proactive security measure ahead of the 2026 state assembly elections. Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik said the initial batch of 50 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) would be inducted on March 10, 2026. "50 companies of the CAPF have been initially allotted to Tamil Nadu by Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, for area domination, confidence-building measures in connection with the General Elections to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly," an official release from the Chief Electoral Officer said on Tuesday. The Assembly elections are expected to be held in April 2026 to elect all 234 members of the Legislative Assembly in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry.

Govt unveils first ever national counter-terrorism policy 'Prahaar'

The eight-page document stresses prevention of terror attacks, swift and proportionate response mechanisms, and stronger coordination among agencies

Agrement to create Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority 'historic': PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the tripartite agreement for creation of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority was "historic" and reflective of the government's unwavering commitment to peace and inclusive growth in the northeastern region. "This is a historic agreement indeed, which will enhance the development trajectory of Eastern Nagaland in particular," Modi said in a post on X. The Centre signed a tripartite agreement with the Nagaland government and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation for the formation of 'Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority' aimed at addressing the demands of eastern Nagaland. "I am sure it will open new avenues of opportunity and prosperity for the people. It reflects our unwavering commitment to peace, progress and inclusive growth in the Northeast," the prime minister said. The agreement was signed on Thursday in the presence of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. "The agreement will pave t

Census of India 2027: Phase 1 houselisting questionnaire notified

The questionnaire will form the basis for data collection during the houselisting phase, to be carried out between April 1 and September 30, 2026, across all states and Union Territories

New MHA SOP eases refunds for cyber fraud cases below ₹50,000: Report

Under the SOP, refunds in small-value fraud cases, where the disputed amount is below ₹50,000, can be processed quickly without requiring a court order

Ex-Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Singh to head ITBP; Praveen Kumar named BSF DG

Former Haryana Police chief Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor was on Wednesday appointed as the director general of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), entrusted with the task of guarding the country's frontier with China. He succeeds incumbent Praveen Kumar, who has been named the new head of the Border Security Force (BSF), according to a Personnel Ministry order. Kapoor, a 1990-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Haryana cadre, was in October last year, sent on leave following a controversy over IPS officer Y Puran Kumar's alleged suicide. He was then posted as the Director General of Police (DGP), Haryana. Puran, a 2001-batch IPS officer, allegedly shot himself dead on October 7. In an eight-page 'final note' purportedly left behind, he had accused several senior officers, including Kapoor, of "blatant caste-based discrimination, targeted mental harassment, public humiliation and atrocities". The Haryana government last month relieved Kapoor from the charge of state DGP. The

Anand Swaroop appointed special secy at MHA; Anupama Nilekar named NHRC DG

Swaroop, a 1992-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IPS officer, presently serving as Director General (Investigation) in the NHRC, has been appointed as Special Secretary (Internal Security) in Home Ministry

Amit Shah chairs Parl panel meet in Andaman, stresses cybercrime strategy

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday chaired a Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Saturday. The meeting started at 11 am and is likely to continue till 2.15 pm. The meeting focused on issues regarding national security, disaster management, cyber security and regional infrastructure, sources said. Shah stressed on "pronged strategy" involving convergence, coordination, communication, and capacity to combat cybercrime, they said. A separate session on the strategic importance of Andaman and Nicobar Islands was also held, the sources said. In the afternoon, Shah will inaugurate an exhibition on 'Naveen Nyaya Sanhita' (new criminal laws) at the ITF Ground in Sri Vijaya Puram, formerly Port Blair. Later, he will also lay the foundation stones for various projects at the Netaji Stadium. Shah arrived in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Friday night on a three-day visit. His plane landed at INS Utkrosh, .

Amit Shah set to arrive in Andamans to chair Parl panel meeting on Jan 3

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive here on Friday for a three-day visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to chair a meeting of the parliamentary consultative committee of his ministry the next day, officials said. Shah is expected to reach the airport here around 9.30 pm and will be received by Lieutenant Governor Admiral (Retd) DK Joshi and other officials. This will be Shah's second visit to Sri Vijaya Puram in less than a month, after he had come here on December 12 to attend a function commemorating the 116th anniversary of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's poem, Sagara Pran Talamala'. Shah is scheduled to chair a meeting of the parliamentary consultative committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs on crucial national issues in Wandoor in Sri Vijaya Puram on Saturday and later he will attend an event on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Dr B R Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT) auditorium in Dollygunj," said a senior official of the Andaman and Nicobar ...

Home Ministry in 2025: From near-defeat of Naxalism to cyber security push

According to the review, the government is on track to make India free from Left-Wing Extremism by March 31, 2026

MHA assigns addl charge of NIA chief to agency's Special DG Rakesh Aggarwal

As per an Office Memorandum (OM) issued by the MHA on Monday, Aggarwal will now hold the additional charge of NIA chief till the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders