The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has signed an MoU with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) to access the centralised online database on FIRs and stolen vehicles. The MoU would enable the NATGRID to get information about details of a suspect as mentioned in the FIR such as his/her father’s name, telephone number and other details.

Practice question for mains:

Q.What is NATGRID? Discuss its role in facilitating criminal investigation and intelligence by various agencies.

About NATGRID

• NATGRID initially started in 2009 is an online database for collating scattered pieces of information and putting them together on one platform.
• It links intelligence and investigation agencies.
• At least 10 Central government agencies, such as the Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing and others have access to the data on a secured platform.
• NATGRID is exempted from the Right to Information Act, 2005 under sub-section (2) of Section 24.

Utility of NATGRID

• The NATGRID enables multiple security and intelligence agencies to access a database related to immigration entry and exit, banking and telephone details, among others, from a common platform.
• The 10 user agencies will be linked independently with certain databases which will be procured from 21 providing organisations including telecom, tax records, bank, immigration etc. to generate intelligence inputs.

Back2Basics: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)

• The NCRB is a government agency responsible for collecting and analysing crime data as defined by the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL).
• NCRB is headquartered in New Delhi and is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• NCRB was set-up in 1986 to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.
• Mission: To Empower Indian Police with IT and criminal Intelligence to enable them to uphold the law and protect people & to provide leadership and excellence in crime analysis particularly for serious and organized crime.

Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks and Systems (CCTNS)

• The CCTNS is a project for creating a comprehensive and integrated system for effective policing through e-Governance.
• The concept was first conceived in the year 2008 by the then Home Minister in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
• The system includes a nationwide online tracking system by integrating more than 14,000 police stations across the country.
• The project is implemented by NCRB.

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