Raipur, Nov 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that extensive deliberations were held on India’s security system during the annual conference of Direct Generals of Police (DGPs) and Inspector Generals of Police (IGPs) at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

In a post on X, PM Modi, who chaired the conference on Saturday, said, “The first day of the DGP-IGP Conference in Raipur witnessed extensive deliberations on different aspects of India’s security system. This is a great forum to share best practices and innovations in this field.”

The 60th edition of the closed-door, off-camera huddle of DGPs and IGPs from across the country at IIM in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday.

PM Modi, who arrived here on Friday night, joined the deliberations on Saturday.

The conference was also attended by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Tapan Kumar Deka, and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Praveen Sood, among other Police chiefs from central and state forces.

Inaugurating the three-day conference, Shah said on Friday that the PM Modi-led government had given “permanent solutions” to the problems of Kashmir, northeast, and Naxalism, and the number of Naxal-affected districts in the country had reduced sharply.

He asked the Police chiefs to go for a 360-degree fight against narcotics and organised crime, emphasised intelligence accuracy and inter-agency synergy, and highlighted the use of new criminal laws to modernise policing nationwide.

The Home Minister said the time had come for state Police forces to work together with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), strike hard at narcotics gangs operating at the state, national, and international levels, and put their masterminds behind bars.

The important meeting comes within weeks of agencies busting a module of doctors involved in a car blast in Delhi that claimed 15 lives on November 10.

According to an official statement, the conference, which will conclude on Sunday with the Prime Minister’s address, aims to review the progress made in addressing key policing challenges so far and outline a forward-looking roadmap for building a ‘Surakshit Bharat’, in alignment with the national vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.

The conference of DGPs and IGPs has emerged as a key forum for resolving the country’s internal security challenges, ranging from identifying problems and challenges to formulating strategies and policies.

Held under the overarching theme of ‘Viksit Bharat: Security Dimensions’, the conference this year will see detailed deliberations on key security issues, including left-wing extremism, counter-terrorism, disaster management, women’s safety, and the use of forensic science and artificial intelligence (AI) in policing, the statement said.

The conference, which is expected to see the participation of around 600 officers, provides a platform for senior police officers to freely discuss and debate diverse national security-related issues as well as various operational, infrastructural, and welfare-related problems faced by security personnel.

This time, to incorporate new and younger perspectives, the heads of the home departments of states and union territories, as well as several officers at the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and Superintendent of Police (SP) levels, will also participate in person.

The annual conference, which culminates in extensive deliberations involving police and intelligence officers from the district, state, and national levels on identified themes, produces tangible action points and reviews the progress on issues identified in previous editions, which are presented to the prime minister.

Best practices from states and union territories are presented during the conference, enabling the states to learn from one another.

The free-flowing discussions allow senior police officers to share their views and recommendations on key policing and internal security issues affecting the country directly with the PM.

Till 2013, the annual meet was held in New Delhi.

The following year, after PM Modi came to power, a decision was taken to keep the event organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the IB outside the national capital.

The conference has since been held in Guwahati (Assam), Rann of Kutch (Gujarat), Hyderabad (Telangana), Tekanpur (Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), Statue of Unity (Kevadiya, Gujarat), Pune (Maharashtra), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Jaipur (Rajasthan), and Bhubaneswar (Odisha).

New Delhi, Nov 29: Operation Sindoor is a “brilliant example” of civil-military fusion, where the administrative machinery worked seamlessly with the armed forces to communicate vital information and build public confidence, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday.

He was addressing the valedictory ceremony of the 100th Common Foundation Course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand.

Singh also called upon young civil servants to understand their crucial role in safeguarding national interests, and, akin to brave soldiers, always stay ready for such critical situations.

“Operation Sindoor is a brilliant example of civil-military fusion where the administrative machinery worked seamlessly with the armed forces to communicate vital information and build public confidence,” he said.

The defence minister asserted that, during Operation Sindoor, the armed forces destroyed the terror camps in Pakistan and PoK in a “balanced and non-escalatory response, but it was the misbehaviour of the neighbouring country which did not allow the situation along the border to return to normal”.

While he commended the bravery of the soldiers, he appreciated the work carried out by the administrative officers as they communicated crucial information and ensured successful conduct of mock drills across the country.

He emphasised increased coordination between governance and national security to achieve the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

Shedding light on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of ‘minimum government, maximum governance’ and ‘reform, perform and transform’, Singh emphasised that the civil servants have a pivotal role to play in accelerating the goal of a self-reliant and developed India.

“When our government was formed in 2014, India was ranked 11th in terms of economic size. In the last 9-10 years, we have jumped to fourth place. Even highly reputed finance firms like Morgan Stanley now say that India might become the third largest economy in the next two-three years,” Singh said.

“You are not platonic guardians but people’s servants. You are not just providers, but facilitators of empowerment. Your character should be incorruptible. Your conduct should be full of integrity. You must create a culture where honesty is neither a virtue nor an exception; but a normal part of everyday life,” he said, urging them to work with the sense of responsibility and public accountability.

Singh also called upon young civil servants to work innovatively in the technology-driven era and find solutions to the problems of the people.

“You must use technology to increase public outreach, accessibility, and transparency. Use technology to promote welfare and increase inclusivity,” he said.

Singh also stressed that as civil servants, trainees must meet every citizen with empathy and understanding.

“When officers interact with the underprivileged or vulnerable sections of society, they must recognise that people’s struggles are shaped not only by their efforts but by wider social and economic circumstances. This is what makes an administrator truly people-centric and compassionate,” he said.

Singh acknowledged the continuing rise of women in the civil services, noting that in the latest UPSC examination, a woman secured the top rank, and three of the top five candidates were women.

He expressed confidence that by 2047, many women will rise to the position of Cabinet secretaries and lead India’s development journey.

Singh described the Foundation Course not merely as a training module but as a commitment to building an efficient, capable, and sensitive governance system.

He lauded LBSNAA for its comprehensive training ecosystem, which, he said, makes it a complete institution that strengthens the nation’s administrative capabilities.

As the UPSC marks its 100th year ahead, he highlighted that the partnership between UPSC and LBSNAA has shaped generations of administrators and will continue to strengthen India’s governance architecture.

Singh also paid floral tributes at statues of former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and ‘Iron Man of India’ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He also inaugurated an ODOP Pavilion on the premises of the academy, the ministry said.

Jammu, Nov 29: The Border Security Force is fully alert to maintain “zero” cross-border infiltration of terrorists in the Jammu region, a top officer said on Sunday and asserted that the flood-damaged infrastructure was restored and strengthened within a month.

Addressing the annual press conference, Inspector General of the Border Security Force (BSF), Jammu frontier, Shashank Anand, highlighted the force’s key achievements and its role during Operation Sindoor.

Anand also said the force is equipped for the winter months with the latest tools, including those that can see through foggy conditions.

“In this sensitive border region of Jammu, the BSF remains alert 365 days of the year and 24 hours, day or night, whatever the circumstances and weather conditions — rain, fog, cold or heat. We have been trained not to leave the posts.

“Our two brave soldiers achieved martyrdom during Operation Sindoor in May, fighting the enemy, while one of our brave soldiers drowned in Pragwal, manning a forward post in September, despite being a good swimmer. He did not leave the border post and preferred death, which shows that our soldiers consider the country supreme,” Anand, flanked by BSF Deputy Inspector Generals Vikram Kunwar and Kulwant Rai Sharma, told reporters here.

He said the border-guarding force is always alert and privy to the activities across the border. Having its own reliable sources, it gets timely inputs about possible infiltration attempts by terrorists, he said.

“And if I talk about the Jammu and Kashmir region, various agencies work together. There is the BSF, Army, Intelligence Bureau, Special Bureau, National Investigation Agency, and many other sister agencies through which we continuously receive inputs,” the Jammu BSF chief said, assuring people that the force is ready for any challenge.

Anand said the BSF is working hard to achieve the “zero infiltration” target along the border.

Asked about the massive damage caused to the anti-infiltration grid after the flooding in August-September, he admitted that the border infrastructure was impacted.

However, he asserted that BSF had dealt with similar calamities in 2014 and 1988, and it was sufficiently resilient to meet such challenges.

“One of our central government ministers reviewed the flood damage on August 31 and September 1 and received a detailed briefing with a promise that the damaged infrastructure will be rebuilt within a month,” Anand said.

The IG BSF said the force not only achieved its target but also “further strengthened the border grid”.

“Today, we are sitting in a system that is two or three times better. So, the damage that came, we took it as a challenge. We got an opportunity, and we saw how we can improve our system further,” Anand said.

During the flood, all possible infiltration routes were plugged with the deployment of manpower and enhanced surveillance, he told reporters.

Speaking about the narco-terror nexus, the BSF officer said the government is employing a 360-degree top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top approach to ensure strict action against all the accused.

“It is absolutely right that some people sell their country, and the same is true in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. And the anti-national forces take advantage of this to carry out narcotic smuggling,” he said.

Asked about the challenge on the border in the coming winter months, especially during the foggy conditions, he said the soldiers posted there are equipped with the required weapons and equipment.

“We also have such technology, which can detect the activities that are happening around the border in the fog. So, I think we are ready to face any challenge,” Anand said.