Amit Shah Opens PRAHAAR Counter-Terror Conference in Delhi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the conference on PRAHAAR counter-terrorism policy and strategy in New Delhi and launched a new Extradition Portal.

Why in News
On 28 September 2026 Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the conference on PRAHAAR counter-terrorism policy and strategy in New Delhi, launched an Extradition Portal and reported that 288 fugitives had been brought back from 36 countries since 2019.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated a national conference on 'PRAHAAR - CT Policy and Strategy' in New Delhi on 28 September 2026. PRAHAAR is the counter-terrorism framework of the Union Government, and the conference was convened to carry its seven pillars from policy documents down to the working level of the police.
Who took part
The Union Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary attended, together with the heads of the Central Armed Police Forces and Central Police Organisations. Directors General of Police drawn from 15 states and the Anti-Terrorism Squad chiefs of every state and Union Territory were present in the hall, while the remaining state police chiefs and cutting-edge field officers joined the sessions online.
The seven pillars examined
Each pillar of the framework was taken up in turn, with a whole-of-society approach running through the discussion.
| Pillar | Thrust |
|---|---|
| Prevention | Stopping a terror act before it is attempted |
| Response | Speed and coordination once an incident occurs |
| Aggregating internal capacities | Pooling the strength of central and state agencies |
| Human rights | Keeping counter-terror action within constitutional limits |
| Attenuating conditions for terrorism | Drying up the circumstances that feed recruitment |
| Aligning international efforts | Working with partner countries and global bodies |
| Recovery and resilience | Restoring normal life after an attack |
A new Extradition Portal
The Home Minister launched an Extradition Portal meant to knit together and speed up the work of bringing wanted persons back from abroad. He told the gathering that between 2019 and 2026 the government had secured the return of 288 fugitive criminals from 36 countries, and asked state police forces to raise dedicated teams that would pursue such cases alongside the central agencies.
The Shahzad Bhatti network
Citing the gains from closer coordination between agencies, the Minister said that more than 40 modules of the Shahzad Bhatti network, which ran weapons, explosives and narcotics across the border, had been dismantled. More than 100 FIRs were registered and 350 people were arrested in 15 states. The network itself has been declared a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
What the Minister asked for
Shah said the government follows a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism in every form. He called for a continuous study of terror incidents so that a firm PRAHAAR mechanism can be built for the next 10 years, for the framework to reach the thana or police station level, and for an automated counter-terrorism response to be institutionalised at every tier. Each pillar, he added, must deliver measurable results, and no stakeholder should be the reason for a delay in action.
Important Facts
| Event | Conference on 'PRAHAAR - CT Policy and Strategy' |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated by | Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah |
| Venue | New Delhi |
| Ministry | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Pillars of PRAHAAR | Seven |
| Launched at the event | Extradition Portal |
| Fugitives brought back | 288 from 36 countries between 2019 and 2026 |
| Shahzad Bhatti network | 40 modules busted, 100 FIRs, 350 arrests in 15 states |
| Law used against the network | Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act |
Exam Point of View
Remember that PRAHAAR is the counter-terrorism framework with seven pillars, that the conference was inaugurated by Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, that the Extradition Portal was launched there, the figure of 288 fugitives from 36 countries between 2019 and 2026, and the action against the Shahzad Bhatti network - 40 modules, 100 FIRs, 350 arrests in 15 states, and its designation under UAPA.
Practice Questions
Which portal was launched at the conference on 'PRAHAAR - CT Policy and Strategy' held in New Delhi?
- A.Extradition Portal
- B.Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
- C.National Intelligence Grid Portal
- D.Narcotics Coordination Portal
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Extradition Portal
Explanation
The correct answer is the Extradition Portal. At the PRAHAAR conference in New Delhi the Union Home Minister launched this portal, whose purpose is to bring together and quicken the effort of returning fugitives who have fled abroad. The same address put a number to that effort: between 2019 and 2026 India secured the return of 288 fugitive criminals from 36 countries, and state police forces were urged to build dedicated teams that work alongside the central agencies on such cases. Option B is wrong because no cyber crime reporting portal was launched at this event; the conference was devoted to counter-terrorism policy and to the seven pillars of the framework. Option C is wrong because the National Intelligence Grid is an existing arrangement and was not the subject of any launch here. Option D is wrong because narcotics featured only in the description of the Shahzad Bhatti network, whose modules were dismantled, and no separate coordination portal for narcotics was announced. Only the Extradition Portal was launched at the conference.
How many fugitive criminals were brought back to India between 2019 and 2026, and from how many countries?
- A.188 fugitives from 26 countries
- B.288 fugitives from 36 countries
- C.388 fugitives from 46 countries
- D.248 fugitives from 30 countries
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 288 fugitives from 36 countries
Explanation
The correct answer is 288 fugitives from 36 countries. Speaking at the counter-terrorism conference in New Delhi, the Union Home Minister said that over the years from 2019 to 2026 the government succeeded in bringing 288 fugitive criminals back to India, and that these returns came from 36 different countries. He cited the figure while launching the Extradition Portal, which is intended to make such returns faster by putting the effort of the agencies on one platform. Options A, C and D carry numbers that were not stated: neither the count of fugitives nor the count of countries in those choices matches what was announced. A student should attach the pair of numbers to the portal, because examiners usually test the figure and the launch together. The Minister also asked the state police forces to set up dedicated teams so that extradition work does not rest on the central agencies alone.
Under which law has the Shahzad Bhatti network been declared a terrorist organisation?
- A.The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act
- B.The Arms Act
- C.The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
- D.The National Security Act
Show answer
Correct answer: C. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
Explanation
The correct answer is the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, usually written as UAPA. The Home Minister said the Shahzad Bhatti network, which smuggled weapons, explosives and narcotics across the border, has been designated a terrorist organisation under this law. He added that better coordination among agencies had allowed more than 40 of its modules to be dismantled, with over 100 FIRs registered and 350 people arrested in 15 states. Option A is wrong because the NDPS Act deals with drug offences and does not carry the power to declare a body a terrorist organisation. Option B is wrong because the Arms Act governs the possession and sale of weapons, not terrorist designations. Option D is wrong because the National Security Act provides for preventive detention of individuals and is not used to proscribe an organisation. UAPA is the statute under which the central government lists terrorist organisations in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pillars does the PRAHAAR counter-terrorism framework have?
Seven. They cover prevention, response, aggregating internal capacities, human rights, attenuating the conditions for terrorism, aligning international efforts, and recovery and resilience.
What was launched at the PRAHAAR conference?
An Extradition Portal, meant to coordinate and hasten the return of fugitives from other countries. Home Minister Amit Shah launched it in New Delhi.
How many fugitive criminals has India brought back since 2019?
288 fugitive criminals from 36 countries between 2019 and 2026, according to the Home Minister.
Sources
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