Introduction

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is entrusted with a wide range of responsibilities, including internal security, border management, Centre-State relations, administration of Union Territories, management of Central Armed Police Forces, and disaster management. Although ‘public order’ and ‘police’ fall under the jurisdiction of State Governments as per Entries 1 and 2 of List II (State List) in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, Article 355 places a duty on the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbances and to ensure that the governance of each State is carried out in accordance with the Constitution. In fulfillment of this mandate, the MHA continuously assesses the internal security environment, issues advisories, shares intelligence, and provides manpower, financial assistance, guidance, and technical expertise to State Governments. These efforts are made to maintain peace and security across the country, while fully respecting the constitutional autonomy of the States.

Departments of Ministry of Home Affairs and Their Role

The Ministry of Home Affairs, in internal ministry of the Government of India, comprises key departments such as Internal Security, Border Management, States and Union Territories, Home, and Disaster Management. Each department oversees vital functions including maintaining internal law and order, managing borders, coordinating Centre-State relations, administering Union Territories, and responding to disasters to ensure national security and stability.

Department of Internal Security
The Department of Internal Security includes key agencies such as the Indian Police Service, Intelligence Bureau, Central Reserve Police Force, Bureau of Police Research and Development, Central Industrial Security Force, Delhi Police, National Security Guard, National Investigation Agency, National Crime Records Bureau, and related training and research institutions. The Ministry of Home Affairs manages internal security primarily through Internal Security Divisions (IS-I and IS-II), which handle issues like law and order, terrorism, arms regulation, and coordination of Central Armed Police Forces. Although maintaining public order and police administration is a State responsibility, the MHA supports States by providing guidance, resources, and coordination as part of its constitutional mandate to prevent internal disturbances. It also supervises the Intelligence Bureau, which leads domestic intelligence and counter-intelligence operations.

Department of Official Language
The Department of Official Language includes agencies such as the Central Translation Bureau, the Central Hindi Training Institute, and the Directorate of Census Operations. Established in June 1975 as a separate department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, it is responsible for implementing the constitutional provisions and the Official Languages Act, 1963, relating to the use and promotion of official languages in government functioning.

Department of Jammu and Kashmir Affairs
The Department of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs, under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), oversees all matters concerning the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. It coordinates development and welfare initiatives, monitors key projects such as the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP), and ensures effective implementation of government schemes in these regions.

Department of Home
The Department of Home, within the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), plays a central role in managing internal security and maintaining law and order. It also coordinates Centre-State relations and oversees key administrative functions. As a core division of the MHA, it ensures effective governance and national stability.

Directorate of Forensic Science Services
The Directorate of Forensic Science Services (DFSS), under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), serves as the central body providing forensic support to the criminal justice system. Established in 2002 and led by a Director-cum-Chief Forensic Scientist, it supervises six Central Forensic Science Laboratories located in Kolkata, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Pune, Guwahati, and Bhopal. Its primary goal is to deliver reliable, high-quality, and timely forensic services using advanced scientific techniques and modern technology.

Fire Service Civil Defence and Home Guards
The Directorate General, Civil Defence was established by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 17 November 1962 with four sections: Fire Services, Civil Defence, Home Guards, and Communications. On 26 February 2014, it was re-designated as the Directorate General, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards. The Directorate is responsible for framing policies, coordinating, supervising, and issuing guidelines for the raising, training, and equipping of Civil Defence, Home Guards, and Fire Services across the country.

It advises State Governments and Central Ministries on organizational matters related to Fire Services, supports modern firefighting training, and helps develop trained personnel. It also oversees Civil Defence at the national level, including policy planning, operational research, and technical training, and manages the Home Guards organization in various States and Union Territories.

Department of States
The Department of States within the Ministry of Home Affairs refers to the Centre-State Division, which oversees the coordination and management of relations between the Central and State Governments. Its responsibilities include matters such as the appointment of Governors, reorganization or creation of new states, reviewing law and order situations in states, and recommending the imposition of President’s Rule when necessary. The division ensures that Centre-State relations function in accordance with constitutional provisions.

Functions of Agencies Under Ministry of Home Affairs

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) supervises a wide range of agencies and institutions, including Central Armed Police Forces such as the BSF, CRPF, and NSG, as well as intelligence bodies like the Intelligence Bureau. It also oversees the National Investigation Agency, National Disaster Response Force, and National Crime Records Bureau. In addition, the MHA includes departments responsible for internal security, border management, and official language policy, along with training institutions such as the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) located at Hyderabad.

Indian Police Service
The Indian Police Service (IPS), one of the All India Services, was established in 1948, replacing the Indian Imperial Police after India’s independence. Along with the IAS and IFS, IPS officers serve both the Central Government and State Governments. The Ministry of Home Affairs acts as the cadre controlling authority for the IPS, handling key service matters such as appointments, cadre allocation, deputation, training, seniority, and pay. The Ministry also maintains the annual Civil List of IPS officers, which records their postings across the country, and oversees a structured training program to develop professional leadership in policing. 

Intelligence Bureau
The Intelligence Bureau (IB) is India’s domestic intelligence and internal security agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Established in 1887 as the Central Special Branch, it is considered one of the oldest intelligence organizations in the world. Until 1968, the IB was responsible for both internal and external intelligence, after which the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) was created to handle foreign intelligence. Since then, the IB’s primary mandate has been domestic intelligence gathering and counterintelligence operations.

Bureau of Immigration
The Bureau of Immigration (BoI) is a government agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs responsible for handling immigration services in India. Its functions include managing entry and exit procedures at airports and border checkpoints, as well as overseeing foreigner registration and visa extension processes. The Bureau also provides online facilities for visa-related services such as visa extensions and OCI card applications, along with a dedicated helpline for queries related to travel and visa regulations.

Bureau of Police Research and Development
The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) was established on 28 August 1970 to support the Government of India’s goal of modernizing the police forces. Over time, it has developed into a comprehensive consultancy organization. The Bureau currently operates through four divisions, namely Research, Development, Training, and Correctional Administration. It functions under the supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

National Crime Records Bureau
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is a government agency responsible for collecting, compiling, and analyzing crime statistics in accordance with the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL). It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is headquartered in New Delhi. 

Central Armed Police Forces
The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) are a group of seven armed police organizations under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. They are responsible for maintaining internal security, enforcing law and order, conducting counterinsurgency operations, and guarding national borders. The CAPF includes the Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), National Security Guard (NSG), and Assam Rifles.

Central Industrial Security Force
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is a Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Its primary mandate is to provide security and protection to major public and private sector establishments across the country. The CISF was established on 15 March 1969 through an Act of Parliament.

Delhi Police
The Delhi Police (DP) is the law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining public order and safety in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It operates under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Approximately 25% of its personnel strength is dedicated to providing security for VIPs. 

Central Reserve Police Force
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is a Central Armed Police Force of India constituted under its own Act and functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It plays a key role in assisting State Governments and Union Territories in maintaining law and order, as well as ensuring internal security. The CRPF comprises two components: the Central Reserve Police Force (Regular) and the Central Reserve Police Force (Auxiliary).

National Security Guard
The National Security Guard (NSG) is a Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs and serves as the Government of India’s premier rapid-response counterterrorism unit. It was established on 16 October 1984, in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star, to combat terrorism and address internal security threats. 

National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences
National Forensic Science University, New Delhi (formerly Lok Nayak Jayprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology & Forensic Science) is a campus of the National Forensic Sciences University, recognized as an Institution of National Importance under the Ministry of Home Affairs by an Act of Parliament. As one of the Central Police Organizations, it specializes in education and training in criminology, cybersecurity, digital forensics, and forensic science. The campus is located in New Delhi, India.

National Crime Records Bureau
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is a government agency that collects, compiles, and analyzes crime data in accordance with the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL). It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is headquartered in New Delhi.

National Civil Defence College
The National Civil Defence College (NCDC), formerly known as the Central Emergency Relief Training Institute (CERTI), was established on 29 April 1957 in Nagpur, Maharashtra. It is the country’s first dedicated disaster management training institute and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

National Investigation Agency
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is India’s premier counter-terrorism law enforcement agency. Established under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, it is responsible for investigating and addressing offenses related to terrorism, national security, and threats to the country’s sovereignty and integrity. The NIA functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

North Eastern Council
The North Eastern Council (NEC) is a statutory advisory body established under the North Eastern Council Act, 1971, and became operational on 7 November 1972 in Shillong. It comprises the eight North Eastern States, represented by their respective Governors and Chief Ministers. While it functions under the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), administrative control of the Council shifted to the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2018, with the Union Home Minister serving as its ex-officio Chairman. The Council works to promote balanced economic and social development in the region.

North Eastern Police Academy
The North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA), formerly known as the Regional Police Training College, is an institution under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Located in the Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya, the Academy began functioning in July 1978. It is dedicated to training police personnel from the North Eastern States and other parts of the country, with a focus on promoting equitable, effective, and sensitive policing. NEPA works towards preparing officers to uphold public safety and preserve freedom from crime, disorder, and criminal activities.

Other Responsibilities of Ministry of Home Affairs

Apart from handling national defense and internal security, the Ministry of Home Affairs also performs several other key functions.

Administration of Union Territories
The union government is the real repository of authority in this respect and is responsible for the administration of the Indian Union Territories. The Indian President administers these territories through an administrator (as in Andaman & Nicobar Islands) or Chief Commissioner (as in Chandigarh) or Lieutenant Governor (as in Delhi and Pondicherry). The power of the President is exercised through the Home Ministry.

Centre-State Relations
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) plays a key role in Centre–State relations, especially in matters of internal security, disaster management, and the administration of Union Territories. Although public order and police fall under State jurisdiction, the MHA acts as a coordinating authority by providing support, intelligence, and manpower to the States, in line with the constitutional responsibility under Article 355. The Ministry is also responsible for matters such as inter-state boundary disputes, the appointment of Governors, and the reorganization or creation of new States.

Civil Defence
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is responsible for the overall policy formulation, coordination, and supervision of Civil Defence activities in India. It provides technical guidance, training, and financial assistance to the States to ensure effective preparedness against threats such as hostile attacks and natural disasters. These functions are carried out through the Directorate General of Civil Defence (DGCD), which operates under the Ministry.

Civil Defence aims at saving life, minimising damage to property and maintaining of industrial production in the event of hostile attack. The Home Guards is a voluntary force organization raised by the State Governments and Union Territories under a broad policy and pattern laid down by the Home Ministry. It is a country-wide organization and its members are drawn from all walks of life. Besides attending to their normal avocations, the Home Guards place their services voluntarily at the disposal of the authorities to assist the civil administration and the community at large. In most of the states these guards are used as part of police forces and are assigned all sorts of duties.

The Ministry conducts civil defence training in the country at three levels, local/town level, state level and national level. The other example of Civil Defence is Fire Service. The Ministry provides guidance, training facilities and general coordination for these services which are administered by the State Governments and the Union Territories.

Appointment to High Positions
The Ministry is concerned with appointments to most of the high positions like Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Commissioners, members of the Inter-State Commission, etc. It is also concerned with the conditions of service of these officers. In addition, the emoluments, allowances, privileges and rights in respect of leave of absence of the President and Governors, salaries and allowances of Ministers, Ministers of States, Deputy Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries of the Union Government fall within its purview. It also issues notifications of appointments and resignations of the Presidents, Vice-President, Prime Minister and other Ministers. It is the Home Secretary who reads out the notification of the appointment of the President at the oath-taking ceremony of the new President.

Miscellaneous functions
Under this division, comes numerous functions like issue of notifications of elections of the President and the Vice-President; grant of pardons, reprieves, suspension, remission or communication of a sentence of death; census; elections; citizenship; immigration; lotteries; rehabilitation; special development activities in states and union territories; matters relating to code of conduct for ministers and legislators; grant of visas to foreigners; official dress etc.