Unoin Government sets up committee on NATGRID

Union Government has set up a high-level committee in order to allay apprehension of data and intelligence sharing by various government agencies with the proposed real-time intelligence sharing set up National Intelligence grid (NATGRID).

• Members: It will be headed by the Union Home Secretary. While the chiefs of all intelligence agencies and investigating units will be the members.

This committee will discuss with 22 stakeholders of NATGRID like IB, R&AW, CBI, and CBDT to remove their apprehension on breach of security and misuse of information.
It will also have discussions with state governments and chalk out strategy on how to bring synergy in data sharing, coordination and dissemination of information.
Background
The idea of NATGRID was first conceptualised by former Home Minister P Chidambaram after the Mumbai 26/11 attack and was approved by the Cabinet committee on Security during UPA regime.
National Intelligence grid (NATGRID)
This central agency aims to have an integrated intelligence grid that will link databases of several departments and ministries of the Government of India in order to collect comprehensive patterns of intelligence that can be readily accessed by multiple agencies.
Thus it will help to identify, capture and prosecute terrorists and help pre-empt terror plots.
It will provide platform to share and disseminate intelligence information among 22 government agencies like Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Financial intelligence Unit (FIU), Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) and the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI).

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2014