New Delhi, February 2026 — In a landmark shift for India’s security doctrine, the Ministry of Home Affairs has released PRAHAAR, the nation’s first comprehensive and publicly articulated National Counter-Terrorism Policy.
For decades, India’s response to terrorism was often criticized as “reactive”—waiting for an incident to occur before mobilizing a defense. PRAHAAR aims to end that era, replacing ad-hoc crisis management with a formal, proactive structure designed to “strike early, strike decisively, and strike lawfully.”
The Seven Pillars of PRAHAAR
The policy is built on an acronym-based framework that integrates intelligence, law enforcement, and technology into a single unified front:
- P – Prevention: Establishing a robust intelligence fusion center for real-time data sharing between state and central agencies.
- R – Response: Defining a strict operational hierarchy so that local police, state ATS, and central forces like the NSG work without inter-agency friction.
- A – Aggregation of Capacities: Standardizing counter-terror training across the country and adopting high-tech equipment.
- H – Human Rights & Rule of Law: Explicitly stating that all actions must follow constitutional safeguards to maintain legal legitimacy.
- A – Attenuating Enabling Conditions: Launching community policing and youth engagement programs to stop radicalization at the root.
- A – Active International Cooperation: Leveraging global forums like the UN and strengthening extradition treaties to isolate terror sponsors.
- R – Recovery & Resilience: Creating mechanisms for psychological counseling and rapid restoration of normalcy to prevent terrorists from winning the “psychological war”.
Adapting to High-Tech Warfare
The policy acknowledges that the face of terror has changed. It specifically targets “Technology-Driven Terrorism,” moving beyond traditional suicide bombers to address modern threats like weaponized drones, encrypted communication, and cryptocurrency-based financing.
By integrating financial intelligence and cyber-security labs into the national strategy, PRAHAAR aims to choke the “Dark Web” recruitment networks that have increasingly targeted Indian youth.
Zero Tolerance Formalized
While India has long maintained a “Zero Tolerance” stance against cross-border terrorism, PRAHAAR provides the institutional maturity to back it up. It specifically identifies state-sponsored terrorism—referencing the persistent threats from Pakistan—and provides a clear mandate for agencies like the NIA (National Investigation Agency) to lead investigations and prosecutions.
Bottom Line
The era of reactive security is over. PRAHAAR is more than just a document; it is a signal to both domestic and international actors that India has modernized its security thinking for the 21st century. By prioritizing prevention over retaliation, the government is betting on a “Whole-of-Government” approach to ensure that those who seek to spread terror find no room to breathe.
