Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, August 25, said the government aims to ensure 100% implementation of India’s three new criminal laws within the next year, with the goal of disposing of criminal cases up to the Supreme Court within three years and increasing the conviction rate by 25%.
Speaking at the concluding session of the Intelligence Bureau’s National Security Strategy Conference in New Delhi, Shah said the criminal justice system needs faster investigations, prosecutions and judicial processes.
New Criminal Laws to Be Fully Implemented
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) came into effect on July 1, 2024. They replaced the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act.
“There will be 100% implementation of three new laws in the next one year, so that criminal cases can be disposed of up to the Supreme Court within three years and the conviction rate will increase by 25%,” Shah said.
Shah Calls for Stronger Internal Security
Shah said India needs stronger internal security to achieve the goal of a developed nation by 2047. He urged intelligence and police officials to anticipate threats rather than respond to them after they become major challenges.
The Home Minister said the National Security Strategy Conference should analyse security trends for the next 15 to 20 years and develop strategies to prevent emerging threats.
He said the government had addressed major internal security challenges involving Naxalism, terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and insurgency in the Northeast, crediting state police forces, central agencies and the Central Armed Police Forces.
Government Targets Infiltration
Shah also said the government was working to strengthen border security and make India “infiltrator-free” in a short period.
He said he had visited all states sharing land borders with other countries over the past eight months and shared a document outlining a “quadrilateral border security approach” with them.
According to Shah, infiltration poses risks to national security, the economy and demographic stability.
AI to Strengthen Crime Detection
The Home Minister highlighted the growing role of technology in policing and intelligence gathering. He said integrated databases involving CCTNS, ICJS, NatGrid and NAFIS have been established.
He urged young police and intelligence officers to use data integration, analysis and artificial intelligence to identify criminal modus operandi and generate actionable intelligence.
Shah also said the government had strengthened its mechanism against fugitives and brought around 274 fugitives back from abroad between 2019 and 2026.
