MHA Boosts Financial Powers for Paramilitary & Intelligence Agencies After Two Decades

The Ministry of Home Affairs has significantly revised the financial powers of Director Generals of various paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies, enhancing rewards for informers and increasing spending limits on operations and maintenance for the first time in over 20 years.

By Saurabh Trivedi: After more than two decades, the Ministry of Home Affairs has revised the financial powers of Director Generals of paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies to reward informers in operational areas.

The financial powers of the Director Generals of the Central Armed Police Forces, Assam Rifles, the National Security Guards, the Intelligence Bureau, the National Investigation Agency, and the National Police Academy have been enhanced under various categories. According to an order issued in June and accessed by ANI, Director Generals now have the power to authorize up to Rs. 50 per instance, with an annual cap of Rs. 500, for compensating guides, interpreters, and informers in operational areas. This limit has now increased to Rs. 3,000 per instance and Rs. 30,000 per year.

The order also revises expenditure on maintaining Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals, increasing the daily allowance per head from Rs. 15 to Rs. 51.43. Additionally, the financial cap for entertaining distinguished visitors has been elevated from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 50,000 per annum, subject to governmental restrictions. Printing and binding budgets have also increased, soaring from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 2 lakh.

On July 24, Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit visited a BSF Border Outpost in the Amritsar sector. He praised the BSF's efforts in curbing cross-border crimes and its initiatives to empower Village Development Committees. In 2021, the Union government amended the BSF Act to allow operations within a 50 km stretch from the international borders in Punjab, West Bengal, and Assam.

(With inputs from agencies.)