Centre Forms High-Level Committee on Demographic Change
Amit Shah says illegal infiltration and abnormal demographic shifts pose major national security challenge
- Centre constitutes panel on demographic change and illegal immigration
- Retired Justice Prakash Navlekar appointed committee chairman
- Panel to study demographic shifts, infiltration and settlement patterns
- Committee to submit report within one year
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 26th May: The Central government has constituted a High-Level Committee to examine demographic changes arising from illegal immigration and other abnormal factors, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a “High-powered Demography Mission” on August 15, 2025.
According to the government notification, the committee will be headed by retired Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar and will include the Census Commissioner along with former IAS officer Durga Shankar Mishra, former IPS officer Balaji Srivastava and economist Shamika Ravi as members.
The Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I) in the Ministry of Home Affairs will serve as the Member Secretary of the committee.
The committee has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive assessment of demographic changes occurring across India due to illegal immigration and other abnormal reasons.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said illegal infiltration and unnatural demographic changes pose a major challenge to the country’s present and future.
“Demographic Change is a serious problem linked not only to our sovereignty but also to national security, law and order, major changes in social structure, and the protection of tribal societies,” Shah said in a post on X.
According to the Terms of Reference, the committee will analyse patterns of abnormal population changes at the level of religious and social communities and examine causes such as illegal immigration, orchestrated migration, abnormal settlement patterns and socio-economic factors.
The panel will also recommend mechanisms for identification, detention and deportation of illegal immigrants in a legal and time-bound manner.
Additionally, the committee will propose institutional mechanisms for strengthening border management, population stabilisation and identification systems to monitor demographic trends continuously.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within one year. The Ministry of Home Affairs may extend its tenure by up to six months if required.
Officials said the committee will also suggest policy, legislative and administrative measures to address challenges arising from demographic changes and illegal immigration.
