GOVERNMENT OF MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.999 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4TH MARCH, 2015/PHALGUNA 13, 1936 (SAKA)

USER AGENCIES OF NATGRID

999. SHRI MAJEED MEMON:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government is planning to have real-time access to all citizens' details in regard to passport, driving licence, telephone records, credit card details, bank records and so on with the click of a mouse to track terror activities;

(b) whether Government has formed a National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) for functional efficiency and effective coordination;

(c) whether there is any proposal to put State Governments and Chief Ministers of the respective States on board as ''user agencies'' of the NATGRID database alongside some other central agencies; and

(d) the details thereof along with the names of other central agencies?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a): The Government has set up National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) as an IT tool to automate the existing manual processes for collation of intelligence information by connecting over 21 data sources like telecommunications, Banking, Airlines etc. to 10 User Agencies in order to enhance the country’s counter-terrorism capabilities. However, The NATGRID does not have mandate to have real-time access to all citizens’ details in regard to passport, driving licence, telephone records, credit card details, bank records and so on with the click of a mouse to track terror activities.

(b): Yes, Sir.

(c): No such proposal has been moved. ….2/

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R.S.US.Q.NO.999 FOR 04.03.2015

(d): No State agency is ‘User Agencies’ of NATGRID. As per Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) mandate, the User Agencies’ of NATGRID are: Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), (ED), Unit (FIU), Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), Directorate General of Central Excise and Intelligence (DGCEI) and (NCB).

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