Accomplishing a monumental task, the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) now has data of more than 105 crore facial entries, which is around 80% of India’s population (if there are no repeat entries), a high-ranking official told News18.
Sources said the facial entries include data captured during the Covid-19 pandemic, even when individuals were wearing masks. Remarkably, the system is capable of efficiently accessing and matching data of masked faces within minutes.
Discussing the significance of this vast data, a senior NATGRID official stressed its use in tracking individuals sought by the law enforcement agencies. The official highlighted that the database encompasses masked individuals, enabling the system to identify and track them effectively.
Regarding the collection and source of data, the official explained that NATGRID has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with various government departments, including the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Income Tax department, and police agencies. Additionally, the data has been sourced from different departments operating at airports.
Simultaneously, the Union government is spearheading the development of a comprehensive national database aimed at monitoring illicit activities such as Hawala transactions, terrorist financing, counterfeit currency circulation, narcotics trafficking, bomb threats, and illegal arms smuggling.
This initiative underscores a concerted effort to leverage data analytics and information technology to overhaul the operational methodologies of security agencies.
The integration of advanced technologies into intelligence gathering and analysis signifies a pivotal shift towards proactive and targeted approaches in combating security threats.
By consolidating vast amounts of data from diverse sources, NATGRID and allied agencies are poised to enhance their capabilities in pre-empting and addressing various forms of criminal and terrorist activities.
As technology continues to evolve, the efficacy of these initiatives will depend on continual adaptation and refinement to stay ahead of emerging threats and challenges.
With the use of the data in question, Union home minister Amit Shah has already told the agencies to exercise caution and discretion in using the system for only the right purpose. They should also ensure that as much as possible, data from the system is used to improve their efficiency, he added.
Since privacy and data security is a serious matter, Shah has promised that necessary protocols have been put in place to ensure no unauthorised access to the personal data of any citizen through this system at any point of time.
The NATGRID solution will be available to 11 central agencies and police of all states and Union Territories. It will link user agencies with data holders, giving them access to real-time information needed for intelligence services and investigations. C-DAC Pune has been roped in as technology partner, and IIT-Bhilai as Plan Management Consultant for the development of NATGRID solution.
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