New Delhi. 26 December 2019. This was an year of major decisions and initiatives taken by Ministry of Home Affairs.
Important Bills Passed by Parliament
Jammu and Kashmir – Abrogation of Article 370 and 35A ; The Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Act, 2019; The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Act, 2019
National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Act, 2019
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019
Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019 – aims to increase operational efficiency of SPG in ensuring the security of the Prime Minister of India.
Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 – focus on granting Indian Citizenship to persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities on ground of religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Marathon deliberations held by Union Home Minister with various stakeholders from North East and their concerns against the CAB 2019 addressed in the final Amendment Act.
Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019 – enhances the punishment for existing offences like illegal manufacture, sale, transfer and illegal acquiring, possessing or carrying prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition; illicit trafficking of firearms; celebratory gunfire endangering human life. Arms licenses to be issued for 5 years in electronic form, which would prevent forgery. The Amendment would reduce possession of illegal firearms and commission of criminal offences by limiting 2 licenses per person. Ownership of arms by retired and serving personnel of armed forces and sportspersons remains unaffected by the Amendment. Further, Ancestral guns may be retained in a Deactivated State.
Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019 – to make the constitution of NHRC and SHRCs broader and more inclusive.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019 – Administrative efficiency, better service delivery and effective implementation of Central and State Government Schemes to be the focus.
Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
Abrogation of Article 370 and 35A
Historic step to remove Article 370 and 35A of Constitution of India
Brought JK & Ladakh at par with other States and UTs
All provisions of Constitution of India, without any modifications or exceptions, to now apply to JK & Ladakh
Laws of Union Government wrt education, empowerment of SC, ST, Minorities etc to be applicable to JK & Ladakh
Boost to local economy and employment opportunities by increasing investment; Reservation to EWS of society in jobs & educational institutions to apply in JK & Ladakh
Betterment of socio-economic infrastructure in JK & Ladakh
The Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Act, 2019
Jammu and Kashmir reorganised into
Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with legislature, and
Union Territory of Ladakh without Legislature
Formally came into force on 31st October, 2019
Maps of newly formed UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh released
1st Winter-grade Diesel outlet for Ladakh inaugurated by Union Home Minister; move to boost tourism in extreme weather conditions
The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Act, 2019
3% reservation in services and educational institutions extended to people living near the International Border (IB) in J&K, in line with reservation given to people living near the Line of Control (LoC)
Amarnath Yatra
3,42,883 yatris had safe and secure Darshan. Higher by nearly 20%, as compared to 2018
Cabinet approved Inclusion of 5,300 Displaced Persons families of J&K in the Rehabilitation Package for Displaced Families of PoJK and Chhamb, under the PM’s Development Package 2015 for Jammu & Kashmir
Government Employees of UTs of J&K and Ladakh to get all 7th Central Pay Commission Allowances from employees.31st October 2019 – allowances worth around Rs. 4800 crores approved for Government
Kartarpur Sahib Corridor : Union Cabinet passed a resolution on 22nd November 2018 to celebrate the historic occasion of 550th Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Devji in a grand and befitting manner, throughout the country and across the globe. India signed the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Agreement with Pakistan on 24th October, 2019
Indian pilgrims of all faiths to undertake year-round Visa-free travel to Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib through Kartarpur Sahib Corridor – a long standing demand of followers of Guru Nanak Dev ji. State of art Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) developed (estd. project cost – Rs. 400 crore), having modern public amenities and security features; architecture reflecting cultural heritage of Punjab
54 Immigrations counters at PTB for facilitating travel of over 5000 pilgrims per day. 4.19 km long, 4-lane highway worth Rs. 120.05 crores built, in record time of 6 months, on Indian side for giving accessibility for pilgrims to the PTB
Special Trains run from across the country to facilitate pilgrims to visit Sultanpur Lodhi, the place where Guru Nanak Devji attained enlightenment and developed as Heritage Town. 300ft. Monumental National Flag at PTB. Online portal (prakashpurb550.mha.gov.in) created to facilitate registration of pilgrims and provide other important information including Do’s & Dont’s and FAQs.
Strict Action on Terror and Insurgency
National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Act, 2019
NIA empowered with extra territorial jurisdiction for investigation of terrorism related offences taking place outside India, in which Indian property/citizens are victims
The mandate of NIA is expanded by inclusion of new offences viz. explosive substances, human trafficking, manufacturing/sale of prohibited arms and cyber terrorism, to its Schedule
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019
Central Government empowered to designate individual as terrorist. NIA empowered to seize/forfeit property representing proceeds of terrorism in cases investigated by NIA. After recent amendment, 4 Individuals viz., Maulana Masood Azhar, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi and Dawood Ibrahim proscribed as Terrorists. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) banned for another five years under sub-sections of UAPA, 1967
Cyber Crime Control
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) launched as a citizen centric initiative to facilitate public for reporting of all types of Cyber Crimes without visiting Police Station. The complaints reported on this portal are accessible online to the law enforcement agencies of respective States/UTs for taking appropriate action as per law
12th India Security Summit on ‘Towards New National Cyber Security Strategy’ held in New Delhi
Review Meeting on Left Wing Extremism (LWE)
Incidents of LWE violence down from 2258 in 2009 to 833 in 2018
Number of deaths dropped from 1005 in 2009 to 240 in 2018
Districts affected by naxal violence reduced from 96 in 2010 to 60 in 2018
Smart Fencing – Union Home Minister launched BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique) under Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) on Indo-Bangladesh border in Dhubri district of Assam, as an effective deterrence against illegal infiltration. Two pilot projects covering about 71 Kms on Indo-Pakistan Border (10 Kms) and Indo-Bangladesh Border (61 Kms) of Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) have been completed.
International Drug Syndicate busted – largest seizure of contraband drugs by NCB in India – 20 Kgs of Cocaine, worth Rs. 100 crores, seized.
Focus North East
National Register of Citizens (NRC), Assam published on 31.08.2019
A machinery created for detection and deportation of illegal immigrants
‘In-principle’ approval given for setting up of 1000 additional Foreigners Tribunals (FTs)
‘In-principle’ approval given to Assam Government for creation of e-FT platform (estd. cost – Rs. 99 crores)
Government of India, Government of Tripura & National Liberation Front of Twipra led by Sabir Kumar Debbarma (NLFT-SD) sign Memorandum of Settlement
NLFT (SD) to abjure path of violence, join mainstream and abide by Constitution of India
Agreed to surrender 88 cadres with their weapons
Cadres to get surrender benefits as per the Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Scheme, 2018
Government of Tripura to help surrendered cadres in housing, recruitment, education etc.
Government of India to consider proposals of State Government for economic development of tribal areas of Tripura
Disaster Management: International Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)launched by Prime Minister during the UN Climate Action Summit in New York on 23rd September, 2019
Knowledge exchange platform on different aspects of disaster and calamity resilience of infrastructure. Assist countries for Infrastructure Development based on risk context and economic needs. Pooling of Technological Expertise of stakeholders.
Cyclones Fani, Vayu, Maha and Bulbul
Successful coordination of Assistance to States and execution of Rescue & Rehabilitation and dissemination of timely information to National & Regional Media by MHA
Sensitization Workshop for Nodal Officers dealing with Disaster Management in all Departments/ Ministries of Central Government held by MHA
Immediate Visits of Inter Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) and Rescue-Relief Ops
Preliminary visits by IMCT for on-the-spot assessment of the flood affected States without waiting for Memorandum from them
IMCT to visit again for detailed damage assessment, after Memorandum submitted byStates
High Level Committee chaired by Union Home Minister approved Rs 4432.10 crore of additional Central assistance to Odisha, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh
Additional financial assistance of Rs. 1813.75 crore given from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to flood affected States of Karnataka and Bihar
· 5375 persons rescued and more than 42,000 evacuated by NDRF from various districts of flood affected states viz. Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat
· Central Forces successfully evacuated 900 persons from Mahalaxmi Express stranded in flood in Maharashtra
· NDRF evacuated more than 11,000 people from flood affected areas of Assam & Bihar
India hosted SCOJtEx-2019 for the 1st time
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Joint Exercise (SCOJtEx)-2019 on Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue organized in New Delhi
Home Minister chaired 10th Meeting of Heads of Departments of SCO Member States, dealing with the prevention and Elimination of Emergency Situations
SCOJtEx to facilitate collective preparedness & building a common understanding of internationally recognized procedures to co-ordinate post-earthquake responses
This joint exercise with SCO member states to be helpful in developing personal understanding amongst counterpart teams to tackle any disaster situation. India hosted 1st International Conference on ‘Landslides Risk Reduction and Resilience’ in New Delhi
Heat Wave 2020: Two-Day Workshop on Preparedness, Mitigation and Management of Heat Wave held in Bengaluru
Experts from 33 countries participated in International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure-2019, held in New Delhi.
Security Forces
Increasing Age of Retirement of CAPFs Personnel to 60 years
Ensuring Uniformity in Age of Retirement for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel
More than 7 Lakh personnel to be benefitted
Organized Group ‘A’ Services Status to Officers of CAPFs
Grant of Consequential Benefits of Non Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU) and Non Functional Selection Grade (NFSG)
National Police University (NPU)
‘In-Principle’ approval given for establishing NPU
100 acres land made available for it
Two day National Conference on ‘Criminal Activities and Radicalization in Jails: Vulnerability of Inmates and Jail Staff and their Protection’ organized by Bureau of Police Research & development (BPR&D)
State-of-art building of Delhi Police Headquarters inaugurated in New Delhi
