CENTRE FORMS PANEL TO ASSESS DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS DUE TO INFILTRATION
Why in News?
- On 26 May 2026, the Centre announced the constitution of a high-level committee under retired Supreme Court judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar to assess demographic changes across India due to illegal immigration and other “unnatural causes.”
- The announcement was made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on social media platform X.
BACKGROUND
- On 15 August 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a high-level committee on demographic change.
- The current committee has now been formally constituted based on that announcement.
OBJECTIVE OF THE COMMITTEE
The committee will:
- Conduct a comprehensive assessment of demographic changes in India
- Analyse changes caused by illegal immigration and other unnatural causes
- Study patterns of abnormal population shifts across religious and social communities
- Suggest a planned and time-bound solution
COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE
Chairperson
- Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar (Retired Supreme Court Judge)
Members
- Census Commissioner
- Retired IAS officer Durga Shankar Mishra
- Former IPS officer Balaji Srivastava
- Dr Shamika Ravi
Member Secretary
- Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I), Ministry of Home Affairs
KEY CONCERNS HIGHLIGHTED
According to the Home Minister, demographic change due to infiltration is linked to:
- National security
- Sovereignty of the country
- Law and order
- Social structure changes
- Preservation of tribal society
He stated that infiltration and related factors are causing an “unnatural demographic change”, posing a challenge to present and future national stability.
ISSUES TO BE STUDIED BY THE COMMITTEE
The committee will examine:
- Demographic changes due to illegal immigration
- Patterns of abnormal population shifts among religious and social communities
- Impact on tribal society and land
- Regional demographic changes, especially in sensitive areas
STATEMENT BY THE PM
Referring to his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, the Prime Minister had stated:
- There is a “pre-meditated conspiracy” to change India’s demography through illegal infiltration
- Infiltrators are:
- Affecting employment of youth
- Targeting women and daughters
- Misleading tribal communities
- Taking over tribal land
- Demographic changes, especially in border areas, can create a national security crisis
SIGNIFICANCE MENTIONED IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT
The government stated that the issue of demographic change is linked to:
- National security
- Sovereignty
- Social structure
- Tribal welfare
- Law and order
CONCLUSION
The committee has been formed to provide a comprehensive and structured assessment of demographic changes in India due to illegal immigration and other unnatural causes, and to recommend time-bound solutions to address the issue.
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