The government on Thursday gave its approval to set up the National Counter-Terrorism Centre which will act as the nodal agency for all anti-terror activities in the country.
The prime minister should perhaps drop the police role of the NCTC, leaving it free to focus its energies on intelligence gathering, coordination and operations, says a former home ministry official.
The policy unveiled by the home ministry is based on seven key pillars to counter the terror threats emanating from India or abroad -- prevention, responses, aggregating internal capacities, human rights and "Rule of Law"-based processes.
With the National Counter-Terrorism Centre getting a nod from the government, Home Minister P Chidambaram has fulfilled his dream of becoming India's counter-terror czar. But his efforts to pattern this body on the lines of the one in the United States, which was formed after 9/11, has failed and how! B Raman analyses
The National Counter-Terrorism Centre, a pet project of Home Minister P Chidambaram since he took over after the 26/11 terror attacks, has finally taken shape as an apex-coordinating agency but without its own sleuths or investigation wing to probe the terror activities.
Sri Lanka's response to the Easter attacks has been slow and politically contested, unlike India's swift institutional reforms after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, observes Colonel R Hariharan (retd).
Pakistani security forces killed at least 13 terrorists along the Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during operations in Mohmand and North Waziristan districts.
A Somalia-born British man has been charged with attempted murder following an anti-Semitic stabbing attack in north London. The investigation, led by Counter Terrorism Policing London, revealed the accused targeted two Jewish men in Golders Green and another man in south-east London.
Pakistani security forces killed 13 terrorists in two separate operations in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The operations targeted members of Fitna al-Khawarij, a term used for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Pakistan has rejected India's criticism of its military campaign in Afghanistan, calling India's statement 'baseless' and 'misleading'.
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Abdullah, alias Abu Hureira, who was tasked with establishing bases outside Jammu and Kashmir, adopted various professions, including share trading, to blend in with the local population. He was recently arrested along with other members of his network.
The Indian government is integrating artificial intelligence into the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) 2.0 to enhance crime tracking, criminal profiling, and predictive policing across the country.
The Dhurandhar movies will undoubtedly shape the minds of the audience much more than news reports, court investigations, books and documentaries. But it is worth remembering that Pakistan's irridentist claims against India's national security have succeeded due to strategic planning, diplomacy, and the unsung heroines and heroes across government agencies, not due to a single maverick leader, points out Shweta Desai.But it is worth to remember that Pakistan's irredentist claims against India's national security have succeeded due to strategic planning, diplomacy, and the unsung heroines and heroes across government agencies -- not a single maverick, points out Shweta Desai.
The government must seriously consider enlarging the scope of its counter-terrorism policy to covertly eliminate the leaders of terrorist organisations abroad who are sponsoring terrorism in India, says Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd).
Amidst a renewed debate on how to counter terror, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday made it clear that it is opposed to National Counter Terrorism Centre in its present form that gave it policing powers and said the fight against the menace must co-exist with federalism.
Violence has surged in Balochistan in recent years, with the number of fatalities in the province rising from 787 to 956 last year.
Home Minister P Chidambaram indicated that the National Counter Terrorism Centre of India, the umbrella body which would deal with terror threats within the country is expected to get the cabinet nod within the next 15 days.
Following the BNP's victory in recent elections, Bangladesh is seeking to reset its relationship with India, emphasizing mutual benefit and a recognition of the changed political landscape.
The Indian government informed Parliament that India and the US are engaged in negotiations for a mutually beneficial multi-sectoral bilateral trade agreement. The two countries also cooperate on strategic, economic, and defense matters, managing divergences through high-level dialogues.
We take a look at the reactions coming from various chief ministers over Centre's proposed move to establish the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, who gathered to discuss it in New Delhi on Saturday.
The home ministry is expected to make some amendments in the National Counter Terrorism Centre. They will inform states about operations before undertaking operations, reports Vicky Nanjappa
Under the defence partnership, India and the UAE are eyeing defence industrial collaboration and cooperation in advanced technologies, cyberspace training, special operations, interoperability of their militaries and counter terrorism.
For the first time in Republic Day history, the Indian Army's Remount and Veterinary Corps will showcase a specially curated animal contingent during the Republic Day 2026 parade on Kartavya Path. The unique contingent features Bactrian camels, Zanskar ponies, raptors, and military dogs, highlighting the crucial role of animals in India's defense forces.
In their talks, Modi and Merz are likely to deliberate on trade and investment ties as New Delhi is looking at deepening economic engagement with Europe against the backdrop of Washington's 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, people familiar with the matter said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasizes the need for a unified anti-terrorism structure and a strong anti-terrorism grid across India to effectively counter terror attacks. He also announced a new plan to combat organized crime.
Defending the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said that the issue of the establishment of the NCTC is not a state versus Centre issue.
Will the much-hyped National Counter Terrorism Centre end up being just another agency to create jobs? Vicky Nanjappa tries to find some answers
The Centre will try its best to get a nod from chief ministers to set up the controversial anti-terror hub National Counter Terrorism Centre at Saturday's crucial meeting which is expected to witness fiery scenes.
Slamming the Centre for taking a unilateral decision on formation of National Counter Terrorism Centre, key United Progressive Alliance ally and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said such institutions "upset" the federal structure of the country and was "not acceptable" to the state.
The Centre has convened a meeting of chief ministers next month to discuss various internal security issues, including controversial National Counter Terrorism Centre which is stuck due to opposition from non-Congress state governments.
Accusing the Centre of behaving like "Viceroys of yore", Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the constitution of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre is a conscious strategy to cast the Centre as an "omnipresent" ruler with states portrayed as dependent vassals.
State governments must think again before opposing Home Minister P Chidambaram on the Nation Counter-Terrorism Centre, says Aditi Phadnis
The National Counter-Terrorism Centre is proposed to be given executive powers of follow-up action on its own and inform the state police thereafter in order to deal with contingencies where the later tends to drag its feet. B Raman reports
Amid escalating row over the Centre's proposal for the setting up of a National Counter Terrorism Centre, the Congress on Saturday struck a conciliatory note, saying the government will definitely try to address concerns raised by United Progressive Alliance ally Mamata Banerjee and chief ministers of non-UPA states on the issue. "If so many chief ministers have expressed their concerns, the central government will talk to them, will certainly try to resolve their concerns."
The National Counter Terrorism Centre seems doomed, even after the Central government make changes to certain provisions to appease the state governments, reports Vicky Nanjappa
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday warned against an "emerging pattern" wherein the state's powers are "abrogated" by the Centre through passage of bills and accused it of showing "scant respect" for state governments.
The Centre is likely to call a meeting of chief ministers on April 16 for discussion on the functioning of the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre, a top official said here on Friday.
The plan for the creation of the ambitious National Counter Terrorism Centre has come under attack from non-Congress chief ministers, including the party's ally Trinamool Congress. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee joined Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in opposing the setting up of the anti-terror body and wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, asking him to "review and withdraw" the decision.
Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa brings forth the different contours of the proposed NCTC, and also explains the raging debate over its formation.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances