The government coupled its Kashmir strategy with legislative reforms, strengthening the powers of investigative agencies through amendments to counter-terrorism laws
On 5 August 2025, Amit Shah became India’s longest-serving home minister, completing 2,258 days in office and surpassing the record set by LK Advani. His tenure has come to symbolise a broad transformation of India’s internal security architecture, stretching from the conflict-ridden valleys of Kashmir and the insurgency-prone northeast to the fast-evolving domain of cyberspace.
Barely 70 days into his first term in 2019, Shah oversaw the abrogation of Article 370, reorganising Jammu & Kashmir into two union territories. The decision, among the most consequential of recent decades, was followed by a significant fall in violence in the region. Reports suggest incidents of militancy declined by as much as 86 per cent , while street protests and stone-pelting became rare.
The government coupled its Kashmir strategy with legislative reforms, strengthening the powers of investigative agencies through amendments to counter-terrorism laws. This allowed a sharper focus on terror financing and the banning of groups accused of fomenting unrest, including the Popular Front of India. Alongside these measures, a series of peace accords in the northeast helped bring armed groups into the mainstream, with more than 10,500 insurgents laying down arms in recent years. Security officials say the partial rollback of emergency laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act reflects growing confidence in the region’s stability.
In central India, the campaign against Maoist insurgents has also seen progress. Violence has decreased, senior cadre members have been neutralised, and thousands of fighters have surrendered. The government has set a target of eliminating the Naxalite movement by March 2026.
Beyond physical conflict, India has increasingly turned its attention to the digital sphere. The establishment of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre has given authorities a central platform to address cyber-enabled threats, from financial fraud to extortion. Officials say its interventions have disrupted criminal networks, blocked fraudulent communications, and prevented losses running into thousands of crores.
India’s evolving security strategy highlights a shift from conventional confrontations to hybrid resilience. Constitutional changes, negotiated peace settlements, stronger legislation, and cyber readiness have become defining features of Shah’s tenure, reflecting a doctrine that adapts to the changing contours of modern threats.