The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Monday gave an in-principle approval to the home ministry’s proposal for a National Intelligence Grid (Natgrid), which seeks to create a centralised database for sharing information by security and law enforcement agencies to combat terror threats at home and abroad.
“CCS has given an in-principle approval to the project and has instructed the home ministry to proceed accordingly,” an official spokesperson said.
Recently, the government had extended the service of Natgrid Chief Executive Officer Raghu Raman, an ex-army officer, for six months up to November, signalling the project would be hastened.
The finance ministry had raised concerns over Natgrid, fearing it would allow the home ministry uninterrupted access to all the information under their jurisdiction.
“The concerns of the finance ministry have been addressed. They (home ministry) are not asking for anything more than what is already provided. The concern was that would they be able to access my database without me knowing it,” a government official said.
At present, government agencies seek information from each other, which leads to delays. Natgrid is expected to get access to 21 categories of data sources, such as railway and air travel, income tax, bank account details, credit card transactions, visa and immigration records. Access to the combined data is proposed to be given to 11 agencies, including various central intelligence agencies, the Research & Analysis Wing, and the National Security Council.