Is India missing the wood for the trees by not making better use of the NATGRID? National Intelligence Grid, or NATGRID, is a massive, centralised intelligence database that is constantly being updated by data providers, such as airlines, railways, banks, telecom and so on. Created with the help of information technology, it is meant to collect, collate and analyse a wide range of information, which could be accessed by user agencies such as security and law enforcement. Set up in 2011 as an office under the Ministry of Home Affairs, NATGRID is an intelligence-sharing platform that aims to streamline the work of intelligence agencies and enable cross-functional collaboration between them. From a national security perspective, the most important thing about the database is that it not only collects traditional intelligence indicative of terrorism and crime, but also accesses bank, hospital, travel and other personal data, crucial to be able to track criminal activity. The primary argument made here is that better utilisation of NATGRID with a focus on collating and assessing intelligence on terrorism could help prevent another Pahalgam in the future.
Pahalgam and Indian Intelligence
The Hindustan Times reported that intelligence was available on a likely attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir in April 2025. The warning was issued apparently just prior to an official visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 19 April. Following the warning, heightened security measures in the Kashmir Valley would have been a logical next step. However, from an intelligence perspective, two things are important. The reports about the threat did not point to the exact location of an attack. The only thing of note was that tourists would be targeted around the time of the prime minister’s visit. That PM Modi did not travel to Srinagar on account of bad weather may have led to a lulling of senses.
The point here is that information of this kind should have been analysed and compared with previous such reports by the NATGRID. Its integrated databases can be used to create early warning systems. However, the NATGRID is still in the early stages and requires a substantial push to make it more modern and truly integrated, with appropriate guardrails to assuage privacy concerns. Patterns of terrorist behaviour need to be studied and predictive intelligence must be shared with stakeholders on terrorist activity. NATGRID’s potential has to be harnessed, with the appropriate checks and balances, to safeguard India from future threats.
