Year-End Review 2025: Ministry of Home Affairs

• 01 Jan 2026

Source: PIB

Why in News?

The year 2025 was a watershed year for the Ministry of Home Affairs, marked by decisive action against internal security threats and transformative reforms, advancing the vision of a Safe, Secure, and Viksit Bharat.

Summary

• In 2025, MHA achieved decisive wins against LWE and terrorism via major ops and intelligence synergy.
• Drove reforms in criminal justice, narcotics control, border management, and cyber security.
• Advanced inclusive governance through Census 2027 (with caste data), voter list purification, and cooperative federalism.

What are the key Achievements of the Ministry of Home Affairs in  the Year 2025?

• Near-Elimination of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE): Landmark operations included the largest-ever anti-Naxal operation at Karreguttalu Hill (Chhattisgarh), and Operation Black Forest which resulted in the elimination of top Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao (Basavaraju). 
  • The geographical spread of LWE shrunk dramatically, with most-affected districts reduced to just 3 in 2025 (from 36 in 2014).
  • Celebrated tribal festivals like Bastar Pandum and Bastar Dussehra to counter Maoist ideology and promote development.
• Strengthened Counter-Terrorism Architecture: Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev were launched as India's strong response to the Pahalgam terror attack, eliminating terror camps and perpetrators.
  • Inaugurated the new Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) in Delhi to synergize intelligence efforts against terrorism, extremism, and organized crime.
  • Launched the BHARATPOL portal with CBI for enhanced international cooperation via INTERPOL.
• Criminal Justice and Cyber Security: Adopted a 4-pronged strategy (Convergence, Coordination, Communication, Capacity). Launched the e-Zero FIR initiative via I4C for swift action on cyber financial crimes.
  • Launched new campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) and Central Forensic Science Labs (CFSLs) in Raipur and Kolkata to boost evidence-based convictions.
• Narcotics and Border Management: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) destroyed 1.37 lakh kilograms of drugs worth Rs 4,800 crore. Major seizures included 300 kg of narcotics at sea and 328 kg of methamphetamine in Delhi under Operation Crystal Fortress. 
  • Approved Vibrant Villages Programme-2 with an outlay of Rs 6,839 crore to transform border villages into growth centers.
  • Piloted the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 and launched a new Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Portal and Fast Track Immigration (FTI) program for trusted travellers.
  • Proactive Disaster Governance: Shifting from a reactive to a proactive model with the goal of 'Zero Casualty', the Ministry approved mitigation projects worth around Rs 4,645 crore, including an Urban Flood Risk Management Programme for 11 cities.  
• Promoting Cooperative Federalism: Established Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag to promote Indian languages in governance. Revitalised Zonal Councils, resolving over 80% inter-state issues.
• Census and Inclusive Governance: Announced that Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases and will include a Caste Census, reaffirming commitment to social justice. Emphasized purification of voter lists (SIR) to secure the electoral process
• Other Key Initiatives: Introduced bills to bar jailed individuals from holding constitutional posts (130th Constitution Amendment Bill, Removal of Ministers upon Detention). 

Conclusion

In 2025, the MHA delivered decisive security gains against LWE and terrorism, implemented transformative justice and border reforms, and advanced inclusive governance, firmly establishing a framework for a secure and developed India.

Drishti Mains Question:

Q. How do the reforms in criminal justice, cyber security, and forensic science initiated in 2025 aim to create a more victim-centric and efficient legal system?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What major achievement did MHA record against Left-Wing Extremism in 2025?
The geographical spread of LWE reduced to just 3 most-affected districts, with major Maoist leaders eliminated through large-scale operations.

2. What is the significance of the BHARATPOL Portal?
BHARATPOL enhances real-time international cooperation through INTERPOL, strengthening India’s global counter-terrorism and crime response.

3. How did MHA strengthen cyber security in 2025?
By launching e-Zero FIR under I4C and expanding forensic infrastructure, enabling faster cybercrime investigation and higher conviction rates.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims 

Q1. Consider the following statements: (2019) 

1. The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has a ‘Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air’. 
2. The UNCAC is the ever-first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument. 
3. A highlight of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) is the inclusion of a specific chapter aimed at returning assets to their rightful owners from whom they had been taken illicitly. 
4. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated by its member States to assist in the implementation of both UNCAC and UNTOC.  

Which of the statements given above is correct? 

(a) 1 and 3 only  

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only  

(c) 2 and 4 only  

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4  

Ans: (c)

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Mains

Q. What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in the Eastern part of India? What strategy should the Government of India, civil administration and security forces adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas? (2020)

Q. India’s proximity to two of the world’s biggest illicit opium-growing states has enhanced her internal security concerns. Explain the linkages between drug trafficking and other illicit activities such as gunrunning, money laundering and human trafficking. What counter-measures should be taken to prevent the same? (2018)