Key allocations rose for police modernisation, border management, and forensic capabilities in internal security budget.
New Delhi: 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’ modernization plan received Rs 352.92 crore, up from Rs 181.21 crore, marking an increase of Rs 171.71 crore, or 94.78%.
The National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme saw its allocation rise from Rs 150.00 crores to Rs 250.02 crores, a notable jump of Rs 100.02 crores, representing a 66.68% increase.
The Gujarat-based Rashtriya Raksha University was allocated Rs 150.00 crores, up from Rs 90.00 crores, reflecting an increase of Rs 60.00 crores or 66.67%.
Research received Rs 3,270.74 crores, up from Rs 2,000.00 crores, indicating an increase of Rs 1,270.74 crores or 63.54%. The Border Infrastructure and Management allocation surged from Rs 3,756.51 crores to Rs 5,597.25 crores, marking one of the highest increases in absolute terms, with Rs 1,840.74 crores, a 48.99% rise. The National Forensic Science University received Rs 120.00 crores, up from Rs 80.00 crores, indicating an increase of Rs 40.00 crores, or 50%.
Police Infrastructure was allocated Rs 4,379.20 crores, up from Rs 3,152.36 crores, indicating an increase of Rs 1,226.84 crores, or 38.92%. The Inter Operable Criminal Justice System was allocated Rs 300.20 crores, up from Rs 250.00 crores, indicating an increase of Rs 50.20 crores, or 20.08%. The Central Police Organisations, which include the Narcotics Control Bureau, Bureau of Immigration, National Crime Records Bureau, and others, received Rs 1,754.88 crores, up from Rs 1,506.37 crores last year. This increase of Rs 248.51 crores represents a 16.5% rise.
The Modernisation of State Police Forces and Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) saw an allocation of Rs 587.97 crores, up from Rs 520.51 crores, reflecting an increase of Rs 67.46 crores or 12.96%. Criminology and Forensic Science received Rs 95.35 crores, up from Rs 84.87 crores, marking an increase of Rs 10.48 crores, or 12.35% rise. The IVFRT (Immigration, Visa and Foreigners Registration and Tracking) program was allocated Rs 250.00 crores, up from Rs 226.25 crores, reflecting a rise of Rs 23.75 crores or 10.5%.
Security Related Expenditure (SRE) and Special Infrastructure Scheme for Left Wing Extremist (LWE) Areas received Rs 3,481.27 crores, up from Rs 3,199.62 crores, marking an increase of Rs 281.65 crores or 8.81%. The Delhi Police saw an increase in their budget, with Rs 11,931.66 crores allocated for 2025-2026, up from Rs 11,180.33 crores the previous year.
This increase of Rs 751.33 crores represents a 6.72% rise. Similarly, the Jammu & Kashmir Police’s allocation increased to Rs 9,325.73 crores from Rs 9,789.42 crores, marking an increase of Rs 536.31 crores, or approximately 5.48%.
The Land Port Authority of India was allocated Rs 341.00 crores, up from Rs 330.00 crores, marking an increase of Rs 11.00 crores or 3.33%. Welfare Grant and Miscellaneous allocations stood at Rs 878.36 crores, up from Rs 850.90 crores, reflecting an increase of Rs 27.46 crores or 3.23%. The Intelligence Bureau’s allocation for 2025-2026 stands at Rs 3,893.35 crores, a rise from Rs 3,823.83 crores in the previous budget. This reflects a modest increase of Rs 69.52 crores, which is approximately a 1.82% growth.
The Vibrant Villages Programme received Rs 1,056.40 crores, up from Rs 1,050.00 crores, reflecting an increase of Rs 6.40 crores, or 0.61%.
Interestingly, the Special Protection Group, responsible for the Prime Minister’s security, received an allocation of Rs 489.00 crores, compared to Rs 506.32 crores last year, indicating a decrease of Rs 17.32 crores or approximately 3.42%.
India Reserve Battalions and Reimbursement to States for Deployment of Battalions received Rs 116.24 crores, down from Rs 126.30 crores, marking a decrease of Rs 10.06 crores or 7.97%.
Schemes for the Safety of Women were allocated Rs 960.12 crores, down from Rs 1,105.00 crores, reflecting a decrease of Rs 144.88 crores or 13.11%.
The ‘Education, Training and Research’ sector saw an allocation of Rs 1,114.47 crores, compared to Rs 1,348.35 crores in the previous year, reflecting a decrease of Rs 233.88 crores, or approximately 17.35%.
The National Intelligence Grid has been allocated Rs 158.23 crores, down from Rs 198.53 crores in the previous budget, showing a reduction of Rs 40.3 crores, equivalent to a 20.3% decrease. The BSF Air Wing, Aircraft, River Boats, and Helibase received Rs 96.46 crores, down from Rs 164.10 crores, showing a decrease of Rs 67.64 crores, which represents a 41.22% reduction. The Border Area Development Program was allocated Rs 98.19 crores, down from Rs 335.00 crores, showing a decrease of Rs 236.81 crores or 70.67%.