Modernisation of police forces, border infrastructure development and intelligence-sharing mechanisms are expected to remain priority areas in the upcoming Union Budget, with recent Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA) budgets showing a clear preference for capital expenditure and infrastructure-intensive components.
An examination of MHA budget documents for 2023-24 (Actuals/Revised) and 2024-25 (Budget Estimates) indicates a sustained shift towards asset creation in policing, border management and intelligence systems.
Officials say the operational experience from Operation Sindoor has reinforced the need for permanent infrastructure and technology-led policing specifically along borders. The operation exposed the need for more all-weather access roads, secure forward operating bases, communications and surveillance, forensic and intelligence support.
As a result, recent budgets reflect higher allocations for border-style infrastructure in internal security theatres, modern police facilities, and integrated intelligence platforms, trends expected to continue in the upcoming budget.
Under Border Infrastructure and Management, total expenditure in 2023-24 (Actuals) stood at Rs 3,336.16 crore, as per the Notes on Demands for Grants. This included Rs 275.72 crore for Maintenance and Border Check Posts and Rs 3,060.44 crore as Capital Outlay.
The dominance of capital outlay clearly indicates that spending is being directed towards permanent assets such as border roads, check posts and supporting infrastructure, rather than recurring costs.
In 2024-25 (Budget Estimates), the total allocation for Border Infrastructure and Management has been retained at a comparable level, suggesting continuity rather than contraction in border infrastructure spending.
Police Infrastructure and Modernisation
Spending on Police Infrastructure, which includes building projects for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Delhi Police and assistance to states for narcotics control infrastructure, amounted to Rs 2,447.76 crore in 2023-24 (Actuals).
Break-up shows that Rs 2,336.58 crore were for Building Projects of CAPFs and Central Police Organisations and Rs 111.18 crore was for Delhi Police infrastructure. This figure reflects infrastructure creation, not salaries or operational expenses.
In addition, the head “Modernisation Plan for Central Armed Police Forces” recorded an expenditure of Rs 1,574.57 crore in 2023-24, with capital components forming a significant share, indicating continued investment in weapons, mobility, communications and logistics.
Intelligence Grid And Technology-Driven Security
Under Intelligence Bureau and technology-linked heads, expenditure in 2023-24 (Actuals) stood at Rs 3,174.56 crore, while allocations for intelligence infrastructure and data systems, including the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), have been maintained in 2024-25 (BE).
Although NATGRID is not broken out as a standalone line item in the summary tables, officials note that funding is embedded within intelligence and technology heads, largely under capital expenditure, supporting secure networks, data integration and analytics platforms.
Central Sector Schemes: Emphasis On Capacity Creation
Total expenditure under Central Sector Schemes/Projects in 2023-24 stood at Rs 6,713.73 crore, with major components including, Police modernisation, Criminal justice system upgrades, Forensic science infrastructure, Prison modernisation.
These schemes are predominantly infrastructure- and technology-oriented, reinforcing the shift away from revenue-heavy spending.
While overall MHA expenditure growth has been incremental, capital expenditure has consistently absorbed a large share of increases in recent years. Heads such as border infrastructure, police buildings, CAPF modernisation and intelligence systems show stable or rising allocations, even when revenue spending remains controlled.
This suggests that the government’s internal security strategy is increasingly anchored in long-term capacity building, with infrastructure and technology at its core.
